This bill became law on Nov 4th, 2025.
Work & employment
Commonwealth agencies and the High Court can ask courts for orders to protect federal workers and workplaces from harm, threats and aggression.
A May 2023 bladed-weapon assault on a Services Australia staff member exposed serious safety risks for frontline Commonwealth workers. The bill lets Commonwealth agencies and the High Court ask courts for workplace protection orders that restrict threats, violence, contact or access, with breaches treated as criminal offences.
Services Australia and other Commonwealth workplaces already used administrative safety measures, but the 23 May 2023 knife assault on Services Australia team leader Joeanne Cassar exposed that a person previously identified as a risk could not be legally barred from a service centre. After the Ashton ReviewThe 2023 review into Services Australia security risks that recommended national workplace protection orders for Commonwealth staff. recommended adopting workplace protection orders nationally and Services Australia recorded 1,694 serious face-to-face incidents in 2023–24, Tony Burke MP introduced the bill to let Commonwealth agencies and the High Court seek court orders restricting threats, violence, contact and access, and it became an Act on 4 November 2025.
The main reservation was not opposition to protecting Commonwealth workers, but concern that the new order scheme needed normal scrutiny to avoid unintended consequences, including possible overreach or drafting problems. That concern was raised conditionally by the Coalition early in debate; later Coalition speakers said the bill had been properly scrutinised and supported it.
Tony Burke MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 04 Nov 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
96 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Commonwealth agencies and the High Court can ask courts for orders to protect federal workers and workplaces from harm, threats and aggression.
Federal workers covered by the new court orders include people working in any capacity for a Commonwealth entityA federal government body covered by public governance law, such as Services Australia or the Australian Taxation Office. or the High Court.
Personal violenceFor this bill, conduct or threats that cause harm or fear and disrupt Commonwealth work or safe access to government services. can include conduct or threats that cause harm or fear to federal workers or people at federal workplaces and disrupt Commonwealth government work.
Courts can make interim, urgent interim, final or agreed orders, and urgent interim orders can start quickly but end after 7 days unless a final orderThe longer-term workplace protection order made after the court considers the application, lasting up to two years. is sought.
Courts can limit a person’s contact with federal workers or access to federal workplaces, and breaching an order is a criminal offence.
(a) to protect Commonwealth workers and persons in Commonwealth workplaces from harm and threats of harm; andCommonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act 2025 final Act text
Commonwealth worker means:Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act 2025 final Act text
(1) A person engages in personal violence if:Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act 2025 final Act text
A Commonwealth workplace protection order may be an interim order, an urgent interim order, a final order or a consent order.Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act 2025 final Act text
The court may impose, by a Commonwealth workplace protection order, any conditions the court considers necessary or desirable to prevent further personal violence by the respondent or to ensure the safety of a Commonwealth worker or Commonwealth workplace. This could include conditions limiting the respondent’s ability to communicate with a Commonwealth worker or access to a Commonwealth workplace.Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Act 2025 final Act text
Context
Services Australia and other Commonwealth workplaces already used administrative safety measures, but the 23 May 2023 knife assault on Services Australia team leader Joeanne Cassar exposed that a person previously identified as a risk could not be legally barred from a service centre. After the Ashton ReviewThe 2023 review into Services Australia security risks that recommended national workplace protection orders for Commonwealth staff. recommended adopting workplace protection orders nationally and Services Australia recorded 1,694 serious face-to-face incidents in 2023–24, Tony Burke MP introduced the bill to let Commonwealth agencies and the High Court seek court orders restricting threats, violence, contact and access, and it became an Act on 4 November 2025.
Knife assault at Services Australia’s Airport West service centre
Hansard said Joeanne Cassar was attacked after a man previously identified as a risk returned with a knife, highlighting that there was no legal means to bar him from the office.
Hansard ↗Ashton ReviewThe 2023 review into Services Australia security risks that recommended national workplace protection orders for Commonwealth staff. recommends national workplace protection orders
The explanatory memorandum said the Services Australia Security Risk Management ReviewThe 2023 review into Services Australia security risks that recommended national workplace protection orders for Commonwealth staff., commissioned after the bladed-weapon assault, recommended adopting ACT-style workplace protection orders for Commonwealth use nationwide.
Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum ↗Services Australia records 1,694 serious face-to-face incidents
The explanatory memorandum used this figure to show the continuing safety risk across Services Australia’s in-person service channels after the Airport West attack.
Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders explanatory memorandum ↗Tony Burke MP introduces the bill
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to create a national scheme allowing courts to make workplace protection orders for Commonwealth workers and workplaces.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary approval of the new protection order scheme.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Workplace protection orders become law
Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. turned the bill into an Act, enabling the Commonwealth workplace protection orderA court order that can restrict a person from threatening, contacting or approaching Commonwealth workers or workplaces. system to take legal effect according to its commencement rules.
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.
Considered by scrutiny committee (27/08/2025): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report 4 of 2025
Report 4 of 2025
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 chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
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 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 chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main reservation was not opposition to protecting Commonwealth workers, but concern that the new order scheme needed normal scrutiny to avoid unintended consequences, including possible overreach or drafting problems. That concern was raised conditionally by the Coalition early in debate; later Coalition speakers said the bill had been properly scrutinised and supported it.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Unintended consequences and drafting risk
David Coleman said the Coalition was inclined to support the bill, but wanted the normal scrutiny process first because Attorney-General's legislation had previously raised concerns about mistakes and unintended consequences.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Tony Burke supports the bill and wants it passed because he says it is a serious worker safety reform that will protect Commonwealth staff from violence and aggression while still allowing people to access essential government services.
Read in Hansard ↗Alison Penfold says the coalition will support the bill because it gives Commonwealth workers and workplaces practical extra protection from threats, harassment and violence.
Read in Hansard ↗Malarndirri McCarthy strongly supports the bill, saying it is needed to protect Commonwealth workers from growing violence and aggression by creating enforceable workplace protection orders while still preserving access to government services.
Read in Hansard ↗Matt Gregg supports the bill and says it is a sensible, proportionate way to protect Commonwealth workers from violence, intimidation and abuse while still preserving access to essential services through safeguards.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
15 speakers · 16 contributions · 15 support
“The Bill responds to this unacceptable situation and implements recommendation 17 of the Ashton Review, by creating a Commonwealth Workplace Protection Order scheme.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is sad that there is an increasing minority of people who have become antigovernment and are engaging in irrational, violent, intimidating behaviour towards government employees across the government sector, be they Services Australia staff or, as my colleagues have pointed out, staff in our electorate offices. That has made working in this sector a little bit harder than it used to be. I know the vast majority of Australians respect our public servants. They respect the work that they do and they treat them with dignity and respect, as you'd expect. But, sadly, we have to create these regimes to deal with a small minority of people who engage in disrespectful or violent behaviour. This is a sensible, proportionate and reasonable measure to ensure that we can keep our workplaces safe, that we can serve the Australian people and that we make sure that everyone's right to feel safe and respected at work is preserved. That is why I am proud to support this bill.”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 backs the bill and says it should pass because it will give courts a practical new way to protect Commonwealth frontline workers and workplaces from violence and threats. He argues the measure closes a legislative gap, follows the Ashton reviewThe 2023 review into Services Australia security risks that recommended national workplace protection orders for Commonwealth staff., and will help keep staff safe while preserving public access to services under managed conditions.
“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 strongly supports the bill and says it is needed to protect frontline Commonwealth workers from violence, harassment and threats through enforceable protection orders. He argues it fills a legal gap, implements the Ashton reviewThe 2023 review into Services Australia security risks that recommended national workplace protection orders for Commonwealth staff. after serious attacks on public servants, and will make government workplaces safer for staff and the public.
“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 resolves a legislative gap in some state and territory protection order schemes, because, under this legislation, the worker who has been targeted does not need to apply for a workplace protection order in their own name. This measure boosts the privacy of Commonwealth workers and gives additional protections because we want a strong Public Service. Labor has always fought to have a strong Public Service. We have fought to make sure that we have the best and brightest working for the Commonwealth in critical services that people in this country rely on every day. To attract those people, to have a strong workforce, people need to understand and know and have the guarantee that this will not happen in their workplace and that they will be protected.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The purpose of the legislation is simple. It is to ensure that those who serve the public can do so safely. It allows for the granting of swift and effective protection orders when workers face harassment, stalking, threats or violence in connection with their work. At its heart, this legislation makes it clear that, if you step up to serve the public, you deserve to be safe while providing that service. Select courts will, therefore, upon application by an authorised person and after taking into consideration relevant circumstances, be able to issue a workplace protection order on behalf of a Commonwealth worker or workplace. Workplace protection orders can be issued in circumstances where personal violence against a worker or a workplace has arisen out of or is in direct connection with the official functions or duties of the relevant worker or relevant workplace and when there is a real risk it will occur again if an order is not made. 'Personal violence' is defined to include acts of violence, harassment, intimidation, threats of harm and other harmful non-physical violence such as verbal abuse over the phone or via email.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“To ensure the scheme is working, the bill also includes a statutory review of the operation of the scheme three years after commencement. It gives us the opportunity to go back to make sure it's working as intended and there are no unintended consequences. I commend the ministers and the departments involved in the drafting of this bill. I also commend the many advocates for workplace safety in our Commonwealth workplaces, especially the Community and Public Sector Union. This bill is an important step towards creating safer Commonwealth workplaces and sends a strong message that the Albanese government values workers who provide critical government services and that violence and aggression towards those workers is always unacceptable. I commend this bill to the House.”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. This change does three important things: it protects the privacy of our workers and ensures that they are no longer publicly named in proceedings and exposed to further risks; it reduces the burden and trauma of victims being forced into the legal system to seek protection and closure; and it strengthens and safeguards our Commonwealth workers, making it clear that it is our responsibility to protect our employees as any good employer should.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This Bill is a further step towards creating safer workplaces for Commonwealth workers, and allowing the Australian community safe access to Commonwealth Government benefits and services.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in strong support of the Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025. We often talk about workplace safety in the context of mining sites, construction sites or heavy industry, but we're here today because, even in Commonwealth offices, the risk of violence is very real.”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 ↗
“Workplace protection orders were one of 44 recommendations made by Graham Ashton to improve the safety and security of Services Australia workers. Many of those recommendations have already been implemented, and they have been very well received by workers in Services Australia. They include things like improved fit-outs of service centres, with safer layouts, safer uniforms and a more worker focused approach for when new people come into the offices. It's really important. The workplace protection orders were recommendation 17 of the Ashton safety and security review—to adopt provisions that are very similar to what have been in place in the ACT. The implementation of this legislation is going to provide Commonwealth public sector workers with safety and with certainty that it's not just them; if they suffer an incident of aggression or violence in the workplace, their employer, the Commonwealth, can take out a protection order on their behalf. Whether it is a worker or a workplace that has been affected, the workplace protection order can be taken out so that the worker doesn't have to look at individual restraining orders or individual orders. It allows the employer, the Commonwealth, to look out for our workers.”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. Public servants devote their professional lives to serving the public. A life of service should be honoured. It should never be scorned, it should never be ridiculed and it should never be unsafe simply to go to work. Every Australian worker deserves to feel safe, to be safe and to come home to their loved ones each day.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill responds to this unacceptable situation and implements recommendation 17 of the Ashton review by creating a Commonwealth Workplace Protection Order scheme.”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 ↗
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 also mentioned the AFP earlier. I know, having been the acting Prime Minister for 101 days—I'll just add that in—and having had the benefit of AFP protection, that they are so good. Electorate office staff all face risks in the course of their duties. They shouldn't, but they do. We live in a volatile world, and we live in a world where people think these days that they can write, say and do whatever they like. The social media phenomenon has caused a lot of people to be a lot more bold and a lot more aggressive than they otherwise would've been. We know that, just in May this year, two Australian Border Force contractors were assaulted and stabbed whilst on duty. This should not be happening in the Australia that we live in. Fortunately, the number of incidents involving guns has drastically reduced since John Howard and Tim Fischer brought in, rightfully, very good restrictions on guns, and that is a good thing. That appalling incident in May 2025 underlines the urgency of providing additional safeguards across Commonwealth workplaces. 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 legislation came before parliament last term, and we indicated at the time that we would support the bill after a quick committee inquiry. That committee inquiry was handed down on a bipartisan basis with a recommendation for minor changes. It otherwise supported the legislation. The legislation passed the House on 28 August this year with bipartisan support, and the coalition is pleased to facilitate the swift passage of this bill through the Senate today.”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 · 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 · 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 · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · 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.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval by the Governor-General that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights
Report 4 of 2025
Considered by scrutiny committee (27 Aug 2025): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report 4 of 2025
APH bill page notes
