Victoria to jail retail, hospitality, and delivery workers' attackers for up to 5 years, with harsher penalties for shopfront ram raids.

Victoria is introducing new laws that could send customers who threaten or assault retail, hospitality, and delivery workers to prison for up to five years, with lesser offenses carrying up to six months. Shopfront ram raids, often tied to tobacco disputes, will be reclassified as aggravated burglary, punishable by up to 25 years. The legislation, part of a broader crime crackdown, follows an 18-month consultation period and is expected to pass by end of 2025. Separate workplace protection orders, set for April 2026, will allow violent customers to be banned from specific businesses. The measures follow a 20% rise in retail crime across Victoria, with over half of workers reporting crime at work, and have drawn support from unions and retailers urging swift action ahead of the holiday season.