Assault and other action against frontline emergency workers
(1) A person who hinders or obstructs, or incites another person to hinder or obstruct, a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty commits an offence. (2) A person who assaults, throws a missile at, stalks, harasses or intimidates a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, although no actual bodily harm is caused to the worker, commits an offence. (3) A person who, during a public disorder, assaults, throws a missile at, stalks, harasses or intimidates a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty commits an offence. (4) A person commits an offence if the person— (a) assaults a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, and (b) by the assault, causes actual bodily harm to the worker. (5) A person commits an offence if, during a public disorder, the person— (a) assaults a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, and (b) by the assault, causes actual bodily harm to the worker. (6) A person commits an offence if the person by any means— (a) wounds or causes grievous bodily harm to a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, and (b) is reckless as to causing actual bodily harm to the frontline emergency worker or another person. (7) A person commits an offence if, during a public disorder, the person by any means— (a) wounds or causes grievous bodily harm to a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, and (b) is reckless as to causing actual bodily harm to the frontline emergency worker or another person. (8) For this section, an action is taken to be carried out in relation to a frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, even if the worker is not on duty at the time, if it is carried out— (a) as a consequence of, or in retaliation for, actions undertaken by the frontline emergency worker in the course of the worker’s duty, or (b) because the worker is a frontline emergency worker.
Sourced from the New South Wales Legislation website at 8 June 2026. For the latest information on New South Wales Government legislation please go to https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.
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