Australia’s largest hardware retailer, Bunnings, is investing heavily in security measures to address a troubling rise in violence against retail workers. The company has allocated approximately $6 million annually for tactical security guards, with about $500,000 spent each month specifically in Victoria. This investment comes as other states in Australia have implemented tougher penalties for assaults against retail staff, highlighting a growing concern over worker safety.
In a significant legislative move, the Victorian government recently proposed new laws to establish a specific offence for individuals who assault or threaten employees in various public settings, including shops and restaurants. If passed, this indictable offence could result in a maximum prison sentence of five years. Further measures are set to be introduced to parliament in April 2026 to prevent troublesome individuals from entering workplaces through protective orders.
According to Mike Schneider, managing director of Bunnings, these legislative changes could serve as a “circuit breaker” to the violence that has escalated in the company’s Victorian stores. Schneider pointed out that similar measures have already been enacted in states such as South Australia, New South Wales, and Western Australia. He noted, “We’re getting there in the end,” emphasizing the need for consistent protections across the country.
The statistics are alarming. Reports indicate that incidents of violence and aggression at Bunnings locations doubled nationally from the previous financial year, with a staggering threefold increase in Victoria alone. One individual was recorded as committing 30 offences at Bunnings, using an extendable baton to threaten both staff and customers. Schneider attributes the spike in violence to a combination of anti-authority sentiments following the COVID-19 pandemic and a legislative framework that often favors offenders over victims.
Retail workers have voiced their concerns regarding the uptick in abuse. Tammy, a worker at Big W in Melbourne, described the situation as “massive,” noting that incidents of sexism, racism, and other forms of abuse occur daily. “I have been kicked, I have been spat at, I have been punched in the past,” the veteran retail employee remarked. She added that the violence appears to be escalating, particularly as the holiday season approaches.
Another retail worker, Ruth, who has spent over 50 years in the industry working at Coles, expressed her frustrations, attributing the increase in aggressive behavior to rising inflation. “There’s been a big escalation in the last few years of people thinking they could tell us where to go because they don’t like prices,” she said. Ruth observed that following the pandemic, customer aggression has intensified rather than subsided. “What was once in a blue moon of somebody going off tap is a weekly, sometimes daily occurrence.”
The recent legislative actions in Victoria are a long-awaited response to worker abuse. Premier Jacinta Allan labeled such violence as “unacceptable” and pledged a crackdown on these incidents in mid-2024. However, the Victorian Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the reforms, urging members of parliament to expedite the laws to ensure they are enacted before the Christmas season.
As Bunnings continues to invest in security measures and as Victoria moves to strengthen protections for retail workers, the focus remains on creating a safer environment for those on the front lines of the retail industry.
