Western Australia has passed a new law that lets courts ban violent and aggressive people from shops. The WA Government announced on 15 October that the Retail Barring Orders Bill 2025 had passed Parliament, clearing the way for retail barring orders to be enforced by WA Police.
Who can ask a court for a ban
Employers, shopping centre owners and unions will be able to apply to the courts to ban a violent individual from retail premises. Once a court makes the order, WA Police can enforce it.
How long a ban can last, and what happens if it is broken
A retail barring order against an adult can run for up to two years, and up to one year for a child. Serious or persistent breaches can bring up to five years in prison.
Groceries and essential services stay open to them
The law includes safeguards so that people subject to a barring order can still buy groceries and reach essential services.
Why retail barring orders are coming
Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said about 25 per cent of retail staff nationally have faced physical violence at work, and a majority have been abused repeatedly by the same customer. He said the retail industry in Western Australia is mostly small businesses and employs up to 150,000 people.
The government says retail barring orders were an election commitment, and that they build on earlier reforms that created a new offence for assaulting retail workers. Police Minister Reece Whitby described the orders as another tool to keep violent offenders away from the stores where they have caused harm.
The government says it is working to have the laws in effect before Christmas. The release does not give an exact start date.
Related: Smart glasses to be banned in all WA public schools at start of new term
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Western Australian Government.
Western Australian Government
