Tasmanian workers facing threats, harassment, or violence from customers and members of the public could soon have access to a new legal shield, with the state government progressing a Workplace Protection Orders (WPO) scheme through consultation.

The proposed scheme would allow businesses to apply to a court or tribunal for a Workplace Protection Order against an individual who has engaged in personal violence at or against a workplace. The orders are designed to complement existing tools such as trespass notices and police move-on powers, which many employers say are insufficient to protect frontline workers from repeat perpetrators.

Tasmania Police data driving the proposal shows that 56 per cent of robberies and 10 per cent of all assaults in 2024–25 occurred in retail locations — a figure the government described as unacceptable. The scheme would apply across all workplaces, not just retail, covering any setting where workers face the risk of violence from members of the public.

Submissions from groups including the Australian Retail Council, Council on the Ageing Tasmania and Master Electricians Australia have broadly supported the scheme, with stakeholders noting that existing legal protections are inadequate for the realities faced by workers in customer-facing roles. The bill is expected to be introduced to the Tasmanian Parliament before the end of 2026.