Pharmacy Daily | Stiff penalties for pharmacy attackers

CUSTOMERS who assault pharmacy workers in NSW could face seven years behind bars under new legislation before the State Parliament.

NSW Attorney General, Mark Speakman, introduced the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Frontline Emergency and Health Workers) Bill 2022, in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, setting out stiffer sanctions against people who attack frontline workers, including all pharmacy staff.

"This Bill will ensure that people who assault frontline health workers, correctional and youth justice officers, and emergency services staff and volunteers will face tougher penalties under new offences," Speakman said.

"Every person should be able to feel free and safe in their workplace, including health and emergency services workers who perform an essential public service for our community in difficult circumstances and often at personal risk.

"Acts of violence on emergency services workers and frontline workers in the course of their duties are unacceptable."

Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President, David Heffernan, welcomed the proposed legislation, noting the organisation had been concerned that community pharmacy workers were not going to be protected by the Bill.

"They've incorporated all pharmacy staff into it, and it's a good decision," he said.

"They can't change the public's behaviour, but it's a good step forward to give comfort to pharmacists.

"We'd prefer that it didn't need to be there, but we all saw what happened in the panic of the pandemic.

"It's absolutely horrific to see footage of violence and your colleagues being assaulted - no one wants to see that, especially people who have been out there right through the pandemic putting themselves out in front in order to protect the public.

"But unfortunately these things do happen, but we now know that penalties will apply, which is a good thing."