Government agency charged after worker assault
26 May 2025
Services Australia has been charged with breaching federal work health and safety laws after a worker was violently attacked at a Melbourne Centrelink office.
Following a Comcare investigation, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has filed a single charge alleging Services Australia failed to comply with its duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).
The incident happened at the Airport West Centrelink office on 23 May 2023. A Centrelink worker suffered serious injuries when they were stabbed by an individual at the workplace.
Comcare’s investigation found that Services Australia failed to comply with its primary health and safety duty to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers (section 19(1) of the WHS Act).
The charge alleges Services Australia failed to undertake a range of measures to eliminate or minimise the risk of physical violence to workers, including:
- Providing at least two uniformed security guards at the workplace at all times, including one guard inside the public entrance
- Managing entry to the workplace
- Giving the service centre manager the authority to decide whether managed entry to the workplace should be implemented and remain in place.
The charge is a Category 2 criminal offence under the WHS Act, carrying a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.
The matter is listed for mention in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on 1 July 2025.
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