The criticism is centred on the Workplace Protection Order (WPO) legislation, a process that allows authorities to prohibit repeat offenders from entering retail stores and shopping centres for a specific period. The legislation is currently in place in South Australia, with other states and territories working towards its implementation.
The most recent update suggests that the legislation will not be introduced in April, as initially intended, and Australian Retail Council CEO Chris Rodwell expressed displeasure at the slow response from the state’s leaders to the rising crime issue.
“Retail workers are facing unacceptable levels of abuse and violence every day, and they do not have the protections they need to stay safe at work. It is disappointing that this critical safeguard is still not in place. Retail workers cannot afford further delays,” he said.
“Victoria is the retail crime capital of Australia. The response needs to match the scale of the problem. A coordinated, well-resourced taskforce is essential to tackling retail crime across the state to protect workers, businesses and communities, not just in a few Melbourne shopping centres.
He added, “This cannot be kicked down the road any longer. The longer this is delayed, the worse the situation will become.”
The Crime Statistics Agency recently revealed that there were almost 100,000 reported crimes in retail settings last year. Rodwell is also urging the Victorian Government to establish a dedicated statewide retail crime task force.
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