The Rise of Retail Violence & Abuse in Tasmania

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 McKell 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.


October 2023
The McKell Institute

SOCIAL SHARE