New Laws Enhance Protection for Commonwealth Frontline Workers

The Australian government has enacted new laws to enhance the protection of frontline employees working in various Commonwealth agencies, including Centrelink, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), passport offices, airports, and the Australian Electoral Commission. These laws introduce stricter penalties for those who threaten or harm federal workers. Threatening harm now carries a penalty of up to nine years imprisonment, up from seven years, while causing harm can result in up to 13 years imprisonment, an increase from the previous maximum of 10 years.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus emphasized the government’s appreciation for the vital services provided by frontline public servants and declared that violence and aggression against them will not be tolerated. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten highlighted the rising number of attacks on these workers, noting nearly 9,000 incidents of face-to-face customer aggression at Services Australia centres in the past year.
The legislation, known as the Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Commonwealth Frontline Workers) Bill 2024, stems from a review conducted last year led by Graham Ashton, which recommended enhanced safety measures for public service workers. The federal government has committed to implementing all 44 recommendations from the Ashton review, including the establishment of workplace protection orders in Commonwealth workplaces.