Wesfarmers has revealed a sharp rise in violent and threatening incidents across its retail network, with more than 13,500 threats and over 1000 physical assaults reported in the past year, prompting renewed calls for government action to curb retail crime.

At the company’s annual general meeting, managing director Rob Scott said customer threats at Kmart Group had jumped 29%, while Bunnings recorded a 66% surge in serious violent incidents.

“We recorded more than 13,500 customer threatening incidents across our retail stores, including several hundred involving weapons,” Scott said. “Our team members must be safe and respected at work.”

Wesfarmers, which owns Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Officeworks and Priceline, has stepped up security in higher-risk locations, rolled out body-worn cameras and boosted de-escalation training.

The company also supports tougher national penalties for violent retail crime and is calling for a “responsible use of technology” such as facial recognition to help identify repeat offenders.

The figures come as new research commissioned by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) found Victoria remains the nation’s worst hotspot for retail crime, with 73% of residents saying rising violence has impacted their sense of safety.

ARA chief executive Chris Rodwell said it was “unacceptable” that retail staff were facing escalating abuse and urged the Allan government to legislate tougher penalties after an 18-month delay.

Retail peers including Super Retail Group and Woolworths have also reported surges in theft and staff assaults, with industry groups warning that organised crime networks and repeat offenders are driving much of the problem.

Meanwhile, Wesfarmers’ AGM also saw investors react sharply to its trading update, sending shares down 5% to $87.85.

The conglomerate said Bunnings’ year-to-date sales were ahead of last year, while Kmart’s growth remained steady.

However, Officeworks earnings are expected to fall up to $25 million due to tech upgrade costs and margin pressure.

The Perth-based group posted a record $2.7 billion profit for FY2025, but warned that cost-of-living pressures, rising domestic costs and subdued business demand were weighing on growth.

Chairman Michael Chaney used the AGM to criticise a proposed 5% cash-flow tax on large corporations, warning it would “drive investment offshore.”

The update follows reports that up to 20 senior managers at Officeworks, including key buyers, were axed ahead of the peak retail season, with planners temporarily managing operations.