Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced a massive safety package ahead of the 2026 South Australian Election.
The SDA has been calling for ongoing improvements to ensure the safety of our members in shopping centres, petrol stations and all retail and fast food workplaces.
If re-elected, the Malinauskas Labor Government has committed to stronger safety and security protections to keep retail and fast food workers safe at work.
The Premier has announced that his government will introduce:
- Higher training standards and stronger licensing requirements for security guards in retail
- Minimum security guard staffing numbers at major shopping centres
- Mandatory workplace safety plans in major shopping centres in case of a violent incident
- Requirements to ensure new retail stores (including petrol stations and bottle shops) take workers’ safety into account in the layout and design.
This announcement is a great outcome for thousands of retail and fast food workers across South Australia.
It’s important to remember that this announcement – and all improvements to workplace safety – have only been possible because of the SDA and SDA members.
This announcement to improve safety and security requirements is a direct result of our campaign for Safer Shopping Centres.
Over the past four years, with the support of the Malinauskas Government, we have fought for and delivered major improvements to workplace safety.
We have delivered major breakthroughs including:
- Stronger penalties for assaulting retail and fast-food workers, including up to 7 years in jail.
- The ability for employers to ban repeatedly abusive and aggressive customers from returning to workplaces for up to 12 months – which will commence soon
- The toughest knife laws in the country to prevent knife-related violence.
- New powers for police to conduct wanding searches, which are now in place at 11 shopping precincts.