Workers threatened with weapons as retail crime spikes

Core Insights - Retail workers at Bunnings and Kmart face over 1000 threats from customers each month, with a significant rise in incidents involving weapons [1][3] - Wesfarmers reported a 66% increase in serious harm threats at Bunnings and a 29% increase at Kmart [1][3] - The company recorded 13,500 instances of customer threats to workers over the past year, with more than 1000 involving physical assault [3] Security Measures - Kmart has enhanced security at high-risk locations and trained staff in de-escalation tactics [4] - Body-worn cameras have been deployed to improve safety for retail workers [4] Crime Statistics - One-in-three retail crimes in Australia occur in Victoria, which is 60% higher than any other state [5] - 79% of Victorians express concern over rising crime levels, compared to 66% in other regions [5] Legislative Actions - The ACT has laws allowing judges to impose workplace protection orders against violent offenders for up to 12 months [7] - South Australia has introduced similar legislation, and New South Wales has launched a police retail crime strategy to restrict recidivist offenders from retail premises [7] Company Performance - Wesfarmers achieved a record net profit after tax of $2.7 billion, a 3.8% increase from the previous year, with total revenue reaching $46 billion [9] Taxation Concerns - Chairman Michael Chaney warned that a proposed 5% cash flow tax could lead to an exodus of business investment and make Australia's tax regime one of the most burdensome globally [11][12] - Chaney emphasized that 93% of Wesfarmers' revenue is distributed to suppliers, team members, governments, and the community, highlighting the importance of large companies in the economy [11]