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Disturbing footage of a Woolworths employee being knocked to the ground unconscious comes amid a disturbing rise in retail violence across Australia. The supermarket chain has released shocking CCTV of customers behaving aggressively inside and outside stores in South Australia. In one shocking video, a Woolworths employee appears to fall to the ground unconscious after being punched in the store carpark. Other workers were captured on CCTV holding brawling teenagers apart after a violent fight erupted just metres from the checkout area. The incidents come as the state government pushes ahead with tough new workplace protection laws aimed at cracking down on retail violence. Stores would have the power to ban serial offenders for 12 months or more. Under the proposed laws, businesses will be able to apply for Workplace Protection Orders through the courts, targeting patrons who are physically or sexually abusive, as well as those who stalk, harass, or damage property. Crucially, a criminal conviction will not be required for an order to be imposed, and any breach could result in a prison sentence of up to five years. The legislation is modelled on a system in the ACT, where Woolworths says workplace attacks have dropped by 23 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. 'The ones that we know are serial offenders are finally going to be able to be told, you are no longer welcome here,' a Big W worker told 7News. 'These laws, if passed, would bring a lot of power to us workers,' another said. SA's attorney general Kyam Maher has backed the changes, saying the government would aim to introduce the new laws by the end of the year. 'We look forward to getting these new laws through Parliament this year so that South Australians can feel safer when they go to work,' he said. With the festive season approaching, a period notorious for heightened tensions in stores, the timing of the legislation could not be more critical. For now, Woolworths and other retailers are urging customers to treat staff with respect, as the state moves closer to implementing the tough new laws. Across Australia, retail crime is on the rise. In 2024 alone, weapon-related incidents surged by 66 percent, with one in four retail crimes involving violence or threats. Victoria recorded the highest spike, with threatening events up 52 percent and serious incidents rising 38 percent. Woolworths reported over 6,000 violent incidents in its stores last year, a 26 percent increase from 2023.
