Stronger protections for hospitality and retail workers have been introduced to Victoria’s parliament, with penalties for assaulting or threatening workers carrying a penalty of up to five years jail under the new proposal.
Hospitality, retail, fast food, and transport workers are covered under the proposed legislation, which apply to front-of-house and back-of-house staff, and delivery and rideshare drivers.
Verbal threats and intimidation would also carry penalties of up to six months in jail should the legislation be passed.
The latest proposal is part of the state government’s attempts to tackle the rise in violent crime in Victoria.
Metrics from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria indicate the levels of serious and common assaults have doubled in some public settings in the past 10 years.
Assaults in shopping complexes have risen from 8.21 to 18.97 per 100,000 people from 2016 to 2025, while those in restaurants and fast food have risen from 5.73 to 10.36 per 100,000 people over the same period.
