Australia's biggest hardware retailer has poured millions into tactical security across stores in a state lagging others in hammering out retail worker abuse.

States and territories across the country have passed laws to toughen penalties for assaults on retail workers and other frontline staff.

Victoria moved to follow on Friday with legislation to create an offence for people who assault or threaten to assault workers in shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping centres, taxis and Ubers.

The indictable offence will carry a maximum sentence of five years' jail.

Further legislation will be introduced to parliament in April 2026 to ban troublemakers under workplace protection orders.

Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider is hopeful it can be a "circuit breaker" to a problem plaguin

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