Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (20:14): (2829) My adjournment matter is for the Attorney-General, and the action I seek is that the Attorney publicly apologise to the workers of Victoria for her failed workplace protection orders regime. Victorian traders suffered 41,775 retail thefts in the past 12 months, a 30 per cent increase on 2023, on top of ram raids, firebombings and harassment of workers. There were 4823 assaults and related offences at retail locations in the year to March, and there are around 100 violent retail crime events in Victoria every day, more than a third of the national total. Thanks to Labor’s wet-lettuce approach to law and order, Victoria has the infamous title of the retail crime capital of the country. Labor likes to parade around as the party of the blue-collar worker but then shafts them at every opportunity, punishing aspiration and promoting feeble excuses for criminals while ignoring the cries of victims.

The coalition twice sought to introduce workplace protection orders. The government even voted against our private members bill being introduced. That same morning the new Premier, whose first job was at Kmart, announced he would legislate the orders himself after months of delay. Frankly, you could not make this stuff up. The act has now passed, after the government opposed coalition amendments that would have backed the worker. These laws would have started the scheme the day after royal assent rather than next year. It would have been more expansive, covering all service-related workers and not just goods-based ones. It would have allowed interim orders ensuring violent repeat offenders could not enter the premises while the retailer waited for the court date. And it would have let police officers, not just affiliated unions, apply on a worker’s behalf. But that is not the case thanks to Ben Carroll, and the backlash from the sector could not be more overwhelming. A Coles executive general manager Martin Smithson said the legislation has gaps. Australian Retail Council CEO Chris Rodwell was more absolute, describing the regime as the weakest in the country. Every day of delay leaves workers exposed to the same offenders, the same abuse and the same threats. This is the last sitting week. Caretaker provisions commence in early November. Unless an additional sitting week is called, there is no chance of this being resolved under Ben Carroll and Labor. To the workers of Victoria I say: if you want change, you must vote Liberal.