Wednesday, 29 July 2026

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence) (14:24): Every Victorian deserves to feel safe at work, but unfortunately in recent times we have seen more frontline workers across retail and transport being abused and subject to abuse, from teenagers working their first job at the checkout through to hardworking cafe and restaurant owners and bus, tram and train drivers, conductors and station staff who keep Victoria moving. This poor behaviour is unacceptable, and it demands stronger protections for workers and tougher consequences for offenders. That is why the Carroll Labor government is sending a clear message today by introducing new legislation to establish workplace protection orders to protect workers in retail, hospitality and transport settings from people who engage in unacceptable conduct. If you commit physical or sexual violence, abuse or conduct that causes a retail or transport worker to experience reasonable fear of harm, you will face a ban of up to 12 months from that workplace, with strict criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of $50,000 if you breach the ban.

This Labor government is serious about keeping communities safe, and it is why we have worked closely with Victoria Police, businesses and unions to design these new measures on top of the changes that we have made in partnership with Victoria Police to deploy more PSOs in higher crime train stations and roll out more CCTV. Compare that to the Liberals, who cut more than $100 million from Victoria Police and did not fund one additional police officer when they were last in government. Now they are proposing to cut services again, slashing funds from police, transport, education and health. While Jess Wilson’s Liberals plot what else they are going to cut and close –

The SPEAKER: Order! Correct titles, Minister.

Melissa HORNE: While the Leader of the Opposition – (Time expired)