Centrelink worker Joeanne Cassar plans to sue after being stabbed at Airport West

The horrific ambush attack on an Airport West Centrelink worker was allowed to occur because of a “policy failure”, the woman’s lawyer will allege.

Centrelink worker Joeanne Cassar was taken to hospital in a critical condition but has since improved to be in a stable condition. Picture: Facebook

A Centrelink worker stabbed in a bloody ambush in Airport West is planning to launch legal action against the welfare agency for failing to protect her.

Joeanne Cassar narrowly avoided death when a knife-wielding assailant attacked her inside the office on Tuesday afternoon.

Essendon man Elijah Chase, 34, allegedly stabbed Ms Cassar, 55, in her lower back, just missing her kidneys.

Ms Cassar was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition, where she woke in a stable condition on Wednesday feeling “really tired and fatigued”.

Joeanne Cassar is planning to launch legal action. Picture: Facebook

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Ms Cassar’s husband, Andrew Giusti, said his wife saw the knife in Mr Chase’s hand just before he turned the weapon against her.

“He was on a ‘banned list’ and Jo recognised him which is why she wanted to control entry to the site … she took one for the team,” he said.

“She’s awake, she’s speaking, she’s on pain meds. She managed to get on her feet today and I’m hoping she can come home soon.”

Mr Giusti said Ms Cassar had tried to deny Mr Chase entry into the office on Tuesday morning, but other staff members permitted him to enter the branch.

He returned a second time in the afternoon, this time brandishing a knife.

It is understood that Mr Chase was previously known to staff.

Mr Giusti called for a national policy overhaul and tighter security measures at Centrelink branches across the country.

He said these precautions could have stopped Mr Chase from ever allegedly attacking Ms Cassar.

“Centrelink workers are at risk everyday. If we don’t do anything to change the current process, a worker could get killed,” he said.

“If entry was controlled, he would not have been able to enter the building and she may not have been stabbed.

“We will be looking to pursue a legal claim and to find out what options and compensation are available.”

The couple’s lawyer, Allanah Goodwin, from Arnold Thomas and Becker said Services Australia’s policy failure resulted in Ms Cassar being stabbed.

“This incident highlights the vulnerabilities of frontline workers and the risks they are exposed to everyday,” she said.

It comes after it was announced on Wednesday that former Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton would lead an urgent review of security at Services Australia centres, the agency that oversees Centrelink.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten, who visited the Airport West office on Wednesday morning following the shocking unprovoked attack, said the matter was being taken “most seriously”.

Bill Shorten visited the Airport West Centrelink office on Wednesday.

Graham Ashton will lead the review of security at Services Australia centres.

“This review will be carried out as a priority,” Mr Shorten said.

“This is a terrible crime committed against a well-respected, well-loved, experienced public servant.

Court documents reveal that Mr Chase was already facing five assault charges from December 17, 2020, when he was accused of unlawfully assaulting and recklessly causing injury to Van Ngo and Naithen Agostini in Coburg.

That same day, he was accused of damaging a water cooler bracket at Coburg’s Job Find Centre.

Mr Chase faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was taken to a prison mental health facility where his lawyer has called for a “full psychiatric review”.

‘Blood all over the floor’

An employee at Westfield Airport West shared the moment a shocked customer said they saw large amounts of blood on the floor of the Centrelink where a woman was stabbed.

Speaking with the Herald Sun on Wednesday, the worker, who wished not to be named, said a patron inside the Centrelink at the time of the incident commented on the gruesome scene that had been left behind.

“They said there was blood all over the floor,” they said.

The worker said that having not witnessed the event themselves and fearing for their safety they asked the shopping centre for further information regarding the assailant and details of what happened, but was refused any information.

“I had to hear what happened on the news.”

A witness who works in a nearby store said she heard screams and feared the worst.

“I heard a lot of children screaming which made my heart drop and I genuinely thought something really bad was happening,” she told Nine.

Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen said staff and customers who witnessed the incident would be able to talk to a social worker.

“Services Australia is supporting staff and customers after a service officer was injured at our Airport West service centre in Melbourne today,” he said in a statement.

“Our hearts are with the injured service officer and their loved ones. Thankfully, they are in a stable condition and receiving the best possible care. The alleged offender was promptly apprehended by Victorian Police, who we are working closely with.”

He described it as “a very sad day”.

“This is a very sad day for our agency and our staff who come to work every day to support Australians.

“They should be free to do their job without concern for their personal safety.

“Our immediate priority is to support all our staff who were impacted by today’s incident, as well as our broader agency staff who serve Australians in every corner of the country.”

The Centrelink branch reopened on Wednesday morning.

Despite the security breach, a Services Australia staff member confirmed that no extra security staff had been assigned to the branch, with only one security officer stationed at the front door.

The Scentre Group, which owns the Westfield in Airport West, has been contacted for comment.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.