The Government’s workplace protection order scheme – the most extensive of its kind in the nation - would give businesses, employers, industry groups and unions the ability to apply to the Magistrates or Youth Court to bar individuals from entering or being within a particular distance of a workplace, if there are concerns they will continue to engage in violent or intimidating behaviour in the workplace.

Orders could last for up to 12 months, and either prevent the violent individual from entering or coming near the premises, or impose strict conditions on their presence in the workplace – including conditions on who they are able to have contact with.

People subject to orders would also need to surrender any firearms or associated licences.

The laws have been modelled on legislation successfully operating in the ACT and have been crafted with the input of unions, workers and employers.

The Government will work with authorities to commence the new laws as soon as possible.

In a separate piece of work, South Australia will lead the way for the rest of the nation to work toward national consistency on Workplace Protection Order schemes, as part of an outcome from the recent meeting of the Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG). South Australia will lead a working group on information-sharing, potential reforms and opportunities to improve responses to retail violence.

The nation-leading Workplace Protection Order legislation also builds on the increased penalties that commenced in August 2022, people convicted of basic assault against a retail worker while performing their duties could face up to five years in prison (up from two years), while someone convicted of assault causing harm could be imprisoned for up to seven years (increased from three).