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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Jasper Lindell

ACT to launch workplace violence awareness advertising campaign

Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who will launch the campaign on Friday morning. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong

An advertising campaign aimed at highlighting the impact of violence and abuse directed at front-line workers is to be launched by the ACT government.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr called on anyone who experienced workplace violence to report it to their employer, the work safety watchdog or the police.

"No matter what job you do in our community, it should be free from workplace violence," Mr Barr said.

"This includes when accessing an ACT government service - whether that's visiting a library, catching public transport, going to Access Canberra or receiving care at a walk-in centre."

The government pointed to incidents where health care, emergency services and housing workers had been physically assaulted as examples of workplace violence.

Bus drivers, government shopfront workers and parking inspectors had been subject to verbal abuse, while teachers had been harassed only by students and their parents, the government said.

The advertising campaign is expected to say the territory's government is committed to ensuring workplaces are safe and abuse is "not part of the job".

"Workplace violence shouldn't be part of anyone's experience, especially when doing the work that helps make our city run smoothly. Community members being violent or abusive to workers is not acceptable," the government said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

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