The Albanese Government is introducing tougher penalties for attacks on federal frontline workers. This new law follows a review prompted by a stabbing attack on a Service Australia officer in Melbourne.
The Bill will place Commonwealth frontline workers on the same footing as Commonwealth judicial officers and law enforcement officers, introducing higher maximum penalties for aggravated offences committed against them.
A Commonwealth frontline worker is defined as a public official who deals directly with the public or a class of the public as a primary function of their role. Covered workers include those in service delivery and regulatory roles, such as employees of Centrelink, the ATO, airports, and the Australian Electoral Commission.
The legislation increases the penalty for conduct causing harm to a Commonwealth frontline worker from a maximum of 10 years to 13 years imprisonment. It also raises the penalty for conduct threatening to cause serious harm from a maximum of 7 years to 9 years imprisonment.
The goal is to create safer workplaces and send a clear message that violence against these workers is unacceptable.
In our view prevention is always better than the dealing with the aftermath of an incident. These reforms should be accompanied by a review of controls such as the systems of work and staffing levels.
For information on preventing and responding to occupational violence visit our webpage.