New proposed laws are designed to protect workers who help the Australian community access essential government services including Centrelink and Medicare. Photo: Julia Gomina.
Laws designed to protect government frontline workers have been introduced to the Federal Parliament, aiming to ensure services can be delivered in a safer environment for staff and community members.
Under the new laws, anyone who causes harm or threatens to cause harm to a Commonwealth worker or workplace can be subjected to a Workplace Protection Order (WPO).
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and outgoing Government Services Minister Bill Shorten issued a joint statement after the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2024 was tabled, noting frontline workers were increasingly experiencing violence and aggression just for doing their job.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, 1692 serious incidents took place across Services Australia’s face-to-face services.
The laws will protect workers who help the Australian community access essential government services including Centrelink, the Australian Taxation Office, passport offices, airports and the Australian Electoral Commission.
“Every day they help people to access government services, support and payments,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“Violence and aggression towards those workers will not be tolerated.
“All Australians, no matter where they work, have the right to a safe, secure and respectful workplace.”
A WPO aims to prevent future violence by stopping a person who has been violent or aggressive from accessing a particular Commonwealth workplace or from contacting a specific worker.
Those who do not abide by the WPO could be imprisoned for up to two years.
A WPO will not stop someone from accessing government services and benefits.
Instead, a plan will be developed to ensure they can continue to access these services safely and reduce the risk of further harm.
Following the stabbing attack on Airport West Services Australia officer Joeanne Cassar in May last year, Mr Shorten commissioned a review into the safety of frontline public service workers which recommended harsher penalties for assaulting Commonwealth workers.
This new bill implements recommendation 17 of the Services Australia Security Risk Management Review, conducted by Graham Ashton.
The Federal Government has committed to implementing all recommendations from the review and provided $46.9 million in 2023-24 and an additional $314.1 million in the 2024-25 Budget to improve safety and security at Services Australia’s service centres.
In July this year, the government legislated stronger criminal penalties to protect Commonwealth frontline workers from violence and aggression.
This new legislation builds on these reforms and sends a powerful message that violence and aggression towards Commonwealth frontline workers and community members will not be tolerated.
“What happened to Jo was abhorrent and unacceptable. This law will help make sure it never happens again,” Mr Shorten said.
“Our frontline Commonwealth workers are doing important work supporting those in our communities who need it most.
“Everyone deserves to work in a safe and secure environment free from any threats of harm.
“This law will mean tougher penalties for anyone who threatens that and ensure workers can go to work and return safely.”
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) welcomed the legislation. It said the bill would enable Commonwealth workplaces to apply for protection orders on behalf of workers to protect them from harm and threats of harm.
If passed, the legislation would ensure services delivered by the Commonwealth could be accessed by the public in a safe environment and deter violence and aggression against Commonwealth workers.
CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said the proposed act would empower courts to make Commonwealth WPOs and impose any conditions it considered necessary or desirable to prevent further personal violence by the respondent.
“Frontline Commonwealth workers, such as those in Services Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission, Border Force, and the National Disability Insurance Agency play a critical role in providing essential support to Australians, in sometimes challenging circumstances,” Ms Donnelly said.
“The reality is that these staff deal with incidents of physical violence, threats and verbal abuse in the course of their work.
“It’s crucial that staff are able to be safe from any acts of violence and threats to their safety.”
She said the legislation would also improve the safety of community members accessing services by implementing better security protections.
“The CPSU has been pleased to see this groundbreaking legislation introduced to prioritise worker safety as an integral part of public service delivery.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Riotact.
