Media Statement | 03/7/2026
By Justin Power, SDA Queensland Branch Secretary
With the Victorian Government introducing new legislation, Queensland is now the only Australian state yet to take positive steps towards introducing Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs). Every week of delay leaves retail and fast-food workers at greater risk of repeated customer violence.
Workplace Protection Orders are court issued orders designed to prevent people who have a history of threatening or assaulting workers from returning to that workplace. They have proven to reduce the risk of repeat incidents and give workers greater peace of mind following incidents of workplace violence.
The Australian Capital Territory was the first jurisdiction to introduce Workplace Protection Orders and they have proven to be very effective. Woolworths successfully applied for 16 Workplace Protection Orders against 15 high-level repeat offenders who were collectively responsible for more than 300 offences. After the Workplace Protection Orders were in place, only three of those offenders ever returned, were subsequently arrested and the company as now seen a 92% reduction in customer violence in that State.
SDA Queensland Branch Secretary Justin Power said Violence against retail and fast-food workers has increased as our most recent study shows one in four retail employees has been assaulted at work.
The SDA remains hopeful the Queensland Government has listened to calls from SDA members to introduce Workplace Protection Orders.
He said workers deserved a clear commitment from the State Government.
“Queensland workers shouldn’t have to wait any longer for these protections, that are already being introduced elsewhere in Australia,” Mr Power said.
“Every week that passes without Workplace Protection Orders is another week that retail and fast-food workers are left vulnerable and insecure.”
“The SDA has been campaigning for Workplace Protection Orders for some time. We’ve met with the current State Government on several occasions to explain why Workplace Protection Orders are needed and how they can protect workers. We’ve had constructive discussions and remain confident the Government understands the importance of these protections, it’s increasingly disappointing that we are still waiting for a commitment.”
“No worker should have to start a shift in fear of the person who threatened or assaulted them is going to walk back through the door.”
The need for stronger protections continues to be reinforced by the experiences of SDA members working in customer facing roles in retail and fast food across Queensland.
“I refused service to a drunk individual who then spat on me. As he left, he punched the glass window and threatened me. A few months after that he returned and spat again, the only thing the police was able to do is arrest him. There has not been a single week when I didn’t have to deal with an aggressive customer or another calling me any foul name, just because they feel they are in a position of power. Aggressive individuals have threatened to beat me up, to cut me, to rape me, etc just because there was something they didn’t like about the product or the shop or whatever policy the business has in place. Instead of dealing with their own life problems, people choose to come into my shop and vent their frustration at me because there’s nothing I can do to stop them. And once they come and verbally and physically abuse me, they are free to return any time and do that again, with me unable to do anything about it. If this government wants to be “tough on crime” they should put their laws where their mouth is and introduce Workplace Protection Orders. They’re long overdue”
Jane – Liquor Store Worker in Brisbane Inner City
The constant threat and fear lead to me not sleeping and in the end to me leaving my previous workplace.
Teagan – Hardware Store Worker in Brisbane West
I have had a man threaten to kill me over the weight of his ham, 20 grams over.
Carlie – Supermarket Worker in the Wide Bay-Burnett region
*These are real stories from SDA members who signed our petition for Workplace Protection Orders. Names have been changed to protect their identity.
Workplace Protection Orders are not about restricting genuine customers or preventing legitimate complaints. They would apply only in serious cases involving violence, threats or intimidation and would be issued by a court after considering the evidence.
“Queensland workers deserve the same protections that are now being made available elsewhere in Australia. It’s time for Queensland to act.”
The SDA Queensland Branch is calling on the Queensland Government to introduce Workplace Protection Orders as a matter of urgency and is encouraging workers and members of the community to support its campaign by signing the SDA’s petition at https://www.sda.au/qld/campaigns/workplace-protection-orders-for-qld/