Queensland Government Calls for Kindness and Worker Safety During Festive Season
As Queensland prepares for one of the busiest retail periods of the year, the Crisafulli Government is urging shoppers to show patience, respect, and kindness toward workers during the festive rush.Queensland’s multicultural communities will share half a million dollars in new state funding, with 70 community organisations supported to deliver cultural events across the state in the first half of 2026.
Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, and Minister for Industrial Relations, Jarrod Bleijie, has reinforced the government’s zero-tolerance stance on workplace violence and aggression this Christmas season.
The government has announced its support for the “Be Kind in Retail” campaign — a national initiative led by the Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) — promoting respect for retail, hospitality, pharmacy, security, and cleaning staff during the holiday period.
Under the theme “Kindness Never Goes Out of Style,” the campaign aims to reduce abusive and aggressive behaviour towards frontline workers. Reports of workers being yelled at, threatened, and even physically assaulted have sparked renewed concern across Queensland’s retail and service sectors.
Mr Bleijie said it was vital that Queenslanders remember the human side of the festive rush.
“Our message is simple this Christmas and all year round – be kind to workers,” he said.
“Workers across retail, hospitality, and other industries are doing long hours to serve the community. We want every worker to feel safe and go home to their family at the end of the day.”
The campaign brings together a wide coalition of industry groups, including the National Retail Association (NRA), Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL), Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA).
SCCA Chief Executive Angus Nardi welcomed the Queensland Government’s endorsement, noting the initiative will reach more than 300 shopping centres and 3,500 digital screens nationwide.
“Our campaign has a simple message for the community: be kind and show respect in our retail environments this Christmas.”
Australian Retailers Association CEO Chris Rodwell added that retailers employ 1.4 million Australians, many of whom are young people or those beginning their careers.
“Every retail worker deserves a safe and respectful workplace,” Mr Rodwell said.
Leaders from the pharmacy and convenience store sectors echoed similar sentiments, noting workers in these environments often face unacceptable levels of verbal and physical abuse, especially during peak periods.
In addition to the safety call, the government reminded Queenslanders that extended trading hours are in place from 18 to 23 December, allowing large retailers such as supermarkets and department stores to operate until midnight.
Trading will also continue throughout the state on public holidays, except Christmas Day.
Public holidays for the 2025–26 Christmas and New Year period are:
- Christmas Eve: Wednesday, 24 December (6pm to midnight)
- Christmas Day: Thursday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Friday, 26 December
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
Mr Bleijie said the extended hours would help “take the pressure out of the Christmas rush” for both workers and shoppers.
For details about trading hours and shop classifications, visit the Business Queensland website.
English