This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Work & employment
Creates a national court order process to protect Commonwealth workers and Commonwealth workplaces from violence, harassment, stalking, intimidation and threatening behaviour by members of the public.
A May 2023 knife assault on a Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. worker exposed a gap in nationwide protections for Commonwealth frontline staff facing violence and threats. The bill creates a national workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person's access to a Commonwealth workplace or contact with staff if there is a real risk of further violence. scheme so courts can quickly restrict risky people while preserving access to government services and MPs.
Commonwealth agencies already relied on a patchwork of state and territory protections, but a May 2023 knife assault on a Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. worker exposed the lack of a national mechanism to quickly protect Commonwealth staff and workplaces from violent or threatening members of the public. After the Ashton reviewThe 2023 security review that recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection order model for Commonwealth workplaces. recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person's access to a Commonwealth workplace or contact with staff if there is a real risk of further violence. model and Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. recorded 1,692 serious face-to-face incidents between July 2023 and June 2024, the government introduced this bill in November 2024, although it later lapsed when Parliament ended in July 2025.
The main reservation was not about protecting workers, but about whether the bill might create unintended consequences if its court-order powers were not properly scrutinised. That concern appears limited: the Coalition still backed the bill in principle, with David Coleman saying support was cautious and tied to the committee inquiry.
Mark Dreyfus MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
236 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
Creates a national court order process to protect Commonwealth workers and Commonwealth workplaces from violence, harassment, stalking, intimidation and threatening behaviour by members of the public.
Lets senior Commonwealth officials ask courts for workplace protection orders that can quickly restrict a person's access to government workplaces or contact with workers when there is a real risk of further violence.
Requires any protection order to preserve a person's access to government benefits and services, and to include other ways to deal with the government or their elected representative if direct access is blocked.
Makes breaching a workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person's access to a Commonwealth workplace or contact with staff if there is a real risk of further violence. a criminal offence punishable by up to 120 penalty units, 2 years jail, or both, and requires a review of the law after 3 years.
Requires workplace protection orders to be sent to every state and territory firearms registry and allows relevant order information to be shared with police and prosecutors for enforcement.
The Bill defines personal violence as when a person engages in, or makes a threat to engage in, conduct that causes harm or a reasonable fear of harm, directly or indirectly to a Commonwealth worker or individual in a Commonwealth workplace. If the conduct or threat of such conduct is directed at a Commonwealth worker it must be because of the Commonwealth worker’s status as a Commonwealth worker, and the conduct must directly or indirectly interfere with the functioning of the Executive Government of the Commonwealth. This is intended to capture acts of violence, harassment, stalking and intimidation, threats of harm and other harmful non-physical violence. Where appropriate, this would extend to threats or harm to a worker such as verbal abuse or threatening behaviour that occurs outside the workplace (for example, a person’s home, mobile servicing such as ‘pop-up’ shops in shopping centres, or a public place where they perform official functions) or in person, via email or phone.Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum
In order to issue a WPO, a court would need to be satisfied that the respondent has engaged in personal violence in relation to a Commonwealth worker or individuals in a Commonwealth workplace, there is a real risk that the respondent will engage in further personal violence (in relation to the Commonwealth worker or workplace) if the WPO is not made, and the WPO is necessary or desirable to prevent the respondent from engaging in further personal violence. A court may issue an urgent interim or interim WPO where the circumstances require a WPO to be issued urgently.Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum
A WPO must not prevent a person from accessing government services and benefits, which they may otherwise be eligible for, or prevent a person from engaging with their electoral representative, or exercising their right to political communication. If a condition proposed to be imposed on the respondent by the WPO would prevent those things, the application must include alternative procedures or arrangements for how the respondent may continue access to those services or engagement. The WPO itself would also include those procedures or arrangements.Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum
The Bill provides that the contravention of a WPO would constitute a criminal offence punishable by 120 penalty units and/or imprisonment for 2 years. The Bill also provides that the Minister must cause a review of the operation and the effectiveness of the Act be conducted as soon as practicable after the third anniversary of the commencement of the Act.Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum
Subclause (1) requires an authorised person who applies for a WPO to provide a copy of the WPO (including when it is varied or revoked) to the firearms registry, however described, of each state and territory. This must be done as soon as practicable after the WPO is made, varied or revoked (subclause (2)).Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum
Context
Commonwealth agencies already relied on a patchwork of state and territory protections, but a May 2023 knife assault on a Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. worker exposed the lack of a national mechanism to quickly protect Commonwealth staff and workplaces from violent or threatening members of the public. After the Ashton reviewThe 2023 security review that recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection order model for Commonwealth workplaces. recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person's access to a Commonwealth workplace or contact with staff if there is a real risk of further violence. model and Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. recorded 1,692 serious face-to-face incidents between July 2023 and June 2024, the government introduced this bill in November 2024, although it later lapsed when Parliament ended in July 2025.
Ashton reviewThe 2023 security review that recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection order model for Commonwealth workplaces. recommends a national workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person's access to a Commonwealth workplace or contact with staff if there is a real risk of further violence. scheme
The Services Australia Security Risk Management ReviewThe 2023 security review that recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection order model for Commonwealth workplaces. recommended adapting the ACT workplace protection order schemeThe existing ACT model the bill is based on, which the review recommended adapting for Commonwealth use nationwide. for Commonwealth use nationwide as a staff protection mechanism.
Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum ↗Knife assault on a Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. worker exposes a protection gap
A staff member was assaulted with a bladed weapon at a Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. service centre, prompting the government to examine how to better protect Commonwealth frontline workers.
Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum ↗Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. records 1,692 serious face-to-face incidents
The explanatory memorandum said the volume of serious incidents showed continuing safety risks for frontline staff and service delivery after the May 2023 attack.
Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces the bill
The bill was introduced to create a national court-order process so risky people could be restricted while still retaining access to government services and elected representatives.
Hansard ↗Bill lapses at the end of Parliament
The proposal did not become law because it lapsed when Parliament ended, leaving the national workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person's access to a Commonwealth workplace or contact with staff if there is a real risk of further violence. scheme unimplemented.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
Considered by scrutiny committee (05/02/2025): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 1 of 2025
Considered by scrutiny committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Referred to Committee (06/02/2025): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (14/03/2025)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The main reservation was not about protecting workers, but about whether the bill might create unintended consequences if its court-order powers were not properly scrutinised. That concern appears limited: the Coalition still backed the bill in principle, with David Coleman saying support was cautious and tied to the committee inquiry.
No broader public case against the bill is clearly recorded beyond this caution about scrutiny and unintended effects.
Risk of unintended consequences
The strongest recorded criticism was a drafting and safeguards concern that the new protection-order scheme should go through normal parliamentary scrutiny to check for unintended consequences before full support was locked in.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Dreyfus supports the bill and says it is an important way to protect Commonwealth workers, especially frontline staff, from violence and aggression.
Read in Hansard ↗Penfold says the coalition supports the bill and will back its new workplace protection orders because they are a sensible way to improve safety for Commonwealth workers.
Read in Hansard ↗Malarndirri McCarthy supports the bill and says it is an important step to protect Commonwealth workers from violence and aggression while still preserving access to government services.
Read in Hansard ↗Matt Gregg supports the bill, saying it will give Commonwealth workers stronger protections against violence, threats and intimidation at work.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
15 speakers · 16 contributions · 15 support
“The Albanese Government values the contributions made by Commonwealth workers—and this Bill is an important development in protecting Commonwealth workers and workplaces across the country.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in support of the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025. This bill will provide legal protections for Commonwealth workplaces and workers and deter acts of violence and other harmful behaviours by members of the public. The workplace protection orders, or WPO, scheme responds to the increasing risk of harm faced by Commonwealth workers, particularly those in frontline service-delivery roles.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Shayne Neumann on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Shayne Neumann supports the bill and says it will fill a legislative gap by letting the Commonwealth seek protection orders to keep frontline workers and workplaces safe from violence and aggression. He argues the measure is a sensible extension of existing state laws and a necessary response to the risks faced by Services AustraliaThe government agency that provides services such as Centrelink and other frontline service delivery, and whose staff were central to the reason for this bill. and other Commonwealth staff.
“This is a good outcome. I did visit the Ipswich office of Services Australia, in my electorate, last year to meet the workers and thank them for their fantastic work, particularly in slashing the backlogs of Centrelink and Medicare claims and improving customer experience. We have invested in 3,000 frontline workers across the country, including 500 in South-East Queensland and quite a number in Ipswich. They do great work, and they deserve to be safe in their workplace and in an environment free from harm. This bill will protect those kinds of workers and the workers in the Ipswich Services Australia centre. I want to thank them for their service to our local community. I thank the former Minister for Government Services for his support of the bill and commend it to the chamber.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Shayne Neumann supports the bill and says it is vital because it fills a gap in protection for Commonwealth workers who face violence and abuse at work. He argues it will strengthen safety for frontline staff and urges the House to pass it.
“I support this legislation; it's absolutely vital. I want to thank the Minister for Home Affairs for bringing forward this bill. I spoke on this bill previously, in the previous parliament. It lapsed with the proroguing of parliament, but I am pleased that the Minister for Home Affairs has brought forward this bill and pleased for the support last term from the former minister for government services and former attorney-general for the original legislation reforms. I thank everyone who has contributed to its development through the consultation process. I thank the CPSU, the union covering Commonwealth public servants, for their support, and all the other stakeholders who were consulted in the development of this legislation.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This bill is critical to taking the next step to stop people from being abused in their own workplaces. And we know that a workplace is a place where you should feel safe. We know that a workplace is a place where you go every day and you should understand and have the confidence and know that, when you get there, you will be safe. We know that a workplace is somewhere where you often spend more time with your colleagues at that workplace than with your family. And, when you go to that workplace, safety is paramount. No-one should ever feel compromised when it comes to safety in their day-to-day work.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This legislation gives me that assurance. It gives me the assurance that workers in Services Australia offices—all 35,000 of them across this great country—will be safe when they provide support services to Australians during life's challenging times.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak in support of the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025. This bill will establish a new act, the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act, which will introduce the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders scheme.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025 is not just another piece of legislation. It is a concrete step towards safer Commonwealth workplaces. It is a practical response to the recommendations of the Ashton review. It is a demonstration that this government will not tolerate violence against its workers. I commend this bill to the House and I urge all members to support it not just for the sake of the law but for the sake of the people who serve our nation every single day.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is long overdue, and it addresses a clear legislative gap in most state and territory protection order schemes. Right now, in many jurisdictions, if a Commonwealth worker is assaulted, threatened or harassed, they are left to bring an application for a protection order in their own name. That places an unfair burden on the victim, forcing them to front up the legal proceedings as individuals for what is effectively a workplace incident. Under this legislation, affected workers will no longer have to take that step. The Commonwealth itself will be able to bring an application on their behalf.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This Bill creates a whole new Act and is a serious reform on worker safety.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The introduction of the bill sends a strong message that the government values the contributions made by Commonwealth workers and that violence and aggression towards those workers and workplaces is unacceptable. The bill creates a whole new Act and is a serious reform on worker safety.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill delivers on recommendation 17 of the Ashton review, which made 44 recommendations to improve safety for Commonwealth workers. It establishes a framework that allows Commonwealth entities to apply to courts for workplace protection orders.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This workplace protection orders bill builds upon the Ashton review's recommendation 17, which called for the adoption of an ACT-style protection order scheme for Commonwealth workers nationwide. Under the bill, agencies can apply for protection orders when a worker has suffered personal violence in the course of their duties and there remains a real risk of further harm. This measure is both compassionate and sensible. It preserves the dignity of public servants and allows agencies to act quickly and decisively.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is going to fill important gaps in the security and safety for Commonwealth public servants who are the heart and the backbone of government delivery and service delivery for the community.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In conclusion, this bill sends a strong message that the government values the contributions made by Commonwealth workers and that violence and aggression towards those workers and workplaces is never acceptable. This bill creates a whole new act and is a serious reform of worker safety. The bill is a further step to creating safer workplaces for Commonwealth workers and allowing the community safe access to Commonwealth government benefits and services, and the bill offers new protections to all Commonwealth workers, just like Joeanne, who we've been speaking about today, who had dedicated her life to helping others.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Albanese government values the contributions made by Commonwealth workers, and this bill is an important development in protecting Commonwealth workers and workplaces across the country.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
5 speakers · 4 support · 1 mixed
“The coalition supports this bill. It is a sensible proposal that has been carefully scrutinised and will deliver upon the intent. But, again, while this place will do its best for the public service, it in turn must always service the public to the best of its ability.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm pleased that this particular legislation does just that, and I commend it to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“As I mentioned, this bill has been subjected to the usual scrutiny processes through the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, and was endorsed by the committee. It has also been examined by the Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee, and clarifying information from the former responsible minister was provided through that scrutiny process. That being the case, the coalition is pleased to support this bill, and I commend it to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition will of course adopt its normal practice of subjecting the bill to ordinary scrutiny to ensure there are no unintended consequences. It is a practice we cannot afford to depart from lightly. Far too often under this Attorney-General we have discovered errors or mistakes which have real adverse consequences for Australia. So we will subject this bill to appropriate scrutiny. But we understand the intent of the legislation and, subject to the results of that inquiry, we will cautiously support it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This approach is sensible, and it warrants the support of this chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Lapsed at end of Parliament
Lapsed at end of Parliament
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered by scrutiny committee
Considered by scrutiny committee (5 Feb 2025): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 1 of 2025
APH bill page notesSenate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (14/03/2025)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (6 Feb 2025): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (14 Mar 2025)
APH bill page notes
