Dog Swamp lockdown revelation as WA retailers get new powers to ban violent thugs
West Australian retail and fast food store owners will be able to issue restraining order-style restraining orders to prevent abusive customers from re-entering their premises.
While Woolworths welcomed the introduction of the legislation to parliament today, state operations manager Lisa Rout said its employees were being subjected to increasing levels of harassment and violence.
Speaking outside Dog Swamp Woolworths, Rout said the store had recently suffered two confrontational incidents, one of which forced the store to lock down for half an hour.
“Last year alone, we saw more than 680 cases of violence and assault against our team recorded. These cases range from verbal abuse to assault and armed robbery,” he said.
“Recently unfortunately the shop behind us had to go into a 30 minute lockdown because we had a criminal vandalize our own checkout area, scaring our staff and also other customers.
“Likewise, I have another team member who is still recovering at home after getting punched in the face a week and a half ago.
“While these events are important, they don’t happen everywhere, every day, but when they do, they truly make a lasting impact.”
Retail ban laws were promised by the state government ahead of the March election but will not pass parliament before the end of the year; This means store owners will have to face the upcoming Christmas season without tools in their arsenal.
Attorney General Tony Buti said the laws work like restraining orders, with store owners or mall managers able to apply to the courts to obtain a retail restraining order.
They must present evidence that someone has caused problems at stores in the past and will likely cause problems in the future, and the judge has discretion over how broad the order will be.
Buti said that the application could be applied to more than one store, but it would not be possible to implement it in all Woolworths or Coles stores.
In rural towns where there may only be a single grocery store, a pattern allowing the offender to go to the store for essential services may be modified or they may have to arrange for food delivery, he said.
“The judge will have the discretion to allow a permissible variation of the retail ban order to allow people who need to access a particular store for essential services, food, to access essential services like groceries or maybe going to a doctor or other essential services,” he said.
Breaching an order can result in five years’ imprisonment.
The laws are modeled on similar legislation in the ACT, which Buti said has led to a huge reduction in retail abuses.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said the laws were long overdue and the Liberals supported them in principle.
“We’ve been calling for these laws all year long. Unfortunately it won’t happen in time for Christmas for retail workers,” he said.
Buti defended the time it takes for laws to come into force and said there should be consultation to ensure they are correct.
Retail workers union organizer Mark Murray was unimpressed with the passage of time to this point.
“If you expect anything to happen quickly, this is obviously your first time dealing with politics,” he said.
Buti reflected on her time working at Kelmscott Woolworths as a teenager and said abuse of retail workers had increased but not decreased during COVID-19.
When asked how the government would address social problems that lead to retail violence, Buti said it was a social responsibility.
“Laws alone do not solve all of society’s problems, but it is an important measure, so it provides protection for retail workers. But of course, we have a long way to go to educate society and respect each other,” he said.
“This goes beyond the legal system, it’s us as a community having this discussion.”
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Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political correspondent and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Award for best political journalism.Connect with: excitement or email.
