Violence in retail settings has emerged as a significant policy challenge in recent years across Australia. Recorded incidences of abuse and violence targeted towards employees in retail settings consistently increased during the pandemic, and remain elevated during this current cost-of-living challenge. In response, some states have either considered or have indeed legislated laws specifically aimed at deterring the abuse from occurring in the first place. Abuse in retail settings is particularly alarming given the disproportionate number of workers in these settings that are underage.

This Data Briefing assesses this challenge from a Tasmanian perspective. It finds that retail violence and abuse is a persistent problem in the state and recommends that the Tasmanian Government consider adopting similar legislative measures as in NSW and SA to deter violence from occurring.

Key findings:

• Retail violence and abuse in Tasmania has been consistently rising in recent years. Reported incidences have increased by 40.3 per cent since 2014 — this is the fastest increase, in percentage terms, among all states.
• All violence in workplaces is unacceptable. There is a particular concern about violence in retail settings, however, due to the disproportionate number of workers in retail settings that are underage.
• Recognising similar challenges, governments in South Australia and New South Wales have, in 2023, legislated to strengthen penalties for those who commit violence in retail settings.
• Stronger deterrence and penalties for retail violence abuse is warranted in Tasmania. However, this briefing notes genuine concerns among some parties that mandatory minimums may exacerbate the cycle of incarceration for disadvantaged offenders.
• A balanced approach would see stronger penalties imposed, while the judiciary retain the capacity to recognise individual offender circumstances during sentencing.