For the past 18 months, the SDA has been working with the Queensland government to increase penalties for customer violence suffered by frontline retail workers. 

A recent survey of some 4,600 SDA members found that instances of customer violence had jumped by 50 percent in just two years.

And the problem is getting worse.

In a win for SDA members in Queensland, the State Government has acted on our recommendation and passed new laws to implement an aggravating sentencing factor to act as a deterrent for aggressive customers. 

In effect, it will increase the penalty a physically abusive customer will face when they assault front line workers, and increase the likelihood that they will face incarceration.

These changes were passed on the 10th of September and will come into effect in the following weeks.

No Australian employee should go to work scared of being assaulted by a customer. No Australian employee should be abused in their workplace.

If you have any questions about the new laws, or would like to talk about an incident that’s affected you, contact the SDA on 07 3833 9500.