Unions in South Australia are pushing to make workplace bullying a crime that would incur penalties of up to 10 years' jail, in line with Victoria's so-called Brodie's Law.

That law was brought into effect in 2011 following the death of 19-year-old Brodie Panlock in 2006.

She took her own life after being relentlessly bullied by four men at the cafe where she worked as a waitress.

SA Unions secretary Joe Szakacs wants to see the law expanded across Australia.

He praised the current national crackdown on domestic violence flagged at last month's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, and said a similar strategy was needed for workplace bullying.

"We call on all attorneys-general ... to make this a federal priority," he said.

"We need to ensure that bullying and harassment, these types of repulsive behaviours, are treated with the same level of severity as other crimes.

"There is no reason why South Australia can't lead from the front on this.

"I would expect that some time soon there's going to be movement at a federal level but nothing should hold any state back from making these moves now."

Law has led to dozens of court cases, victim's parents say

Brodie's parents, Rae and Damian Panlock, stood alongside Mr Szakacs as he issued the call today.

Ms Panlock said the law in Victoria acted as a deterrent to would-be bullies.

"It was just horrific what happened to Brodie and sadly she's not the only one that these sorts of things happen to," she said.

"Now police can go into schools and say to kids, yes, this is against the law."

Mr Panlock said the law had led to dozens of court cases in Victoria, including 180 in 2013 alone, but a national approach to the problem was needed.

"It doesn't have to be Brodie's Law," he said.

"Just have similar to what we've got in Victoria or even improve it and make sure the Victorian one gets better as well.

"You need policies to look after everyone, that's from cyber to the workforce."