Victorian Current Acts

DEFAMATION ACT 2005

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purpose  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Objects of Act  
   4.      Definitions  
   5.      Act to bind Crown  

   PART 2--GENERAL PRINCIPLES

           Division 1--Defamation and the general law

   6.      Tort of defamation  
   7.      Distinction between slander and libel abolished  

           Division 2--Causes of action for defamation

   8.      Single cause of action for multiple defamatory imputations in same matter  
   9.      Certain corporations do not have cause of action for defamation  
   10.     No cause of action for defamation of, or against, deceased persons  

           Division 2A--Exemptions from liability for digital intermediaries

   10B.    Definitions  
   10C.    Exemption for digital intermediaries providing caching, conduit or storage services  
   10D.    Exemption for search engine providers  
   10E.    Early determination of digital intermediary exemptions  

           Division 3--Choice of law

   11.     Choice of law for defamation proceedings  

   PART 3--RESOLUTION OF CIVIL DISPUTES WITHOUT LITIGATION

           Division 1--Concerns notices and offers to make amends

   12.     Application of Division  
   13.     Publisher may make offer to make amends  
   14.     When offer to make amends may be made  
   15.     Content of offer to make amends  
   16.     Withdrawal of offer to make amends  
   17.     Effect of acceptance of offer to make amends  
   18.     Effect of failure to accept reasonable offer to make amends  
   19.     Inadmissibility of evidence of certain statements and admissions  

           Division 2--Apologies

   20.     Effect of apology on liability for defamation  

   PART 4--LITIGATION OF CIVIL DISPUTES

           Division 1--General

   21.     Election for defamation proceedings to be tried by jury  
   22.     Roles of judicial officers and juries in defamation proceedings  
   23A.    Orders for preliminary discovery about posters of digital matter  

           Division 2--Defences

   24.     Scope of defences under general law and other law not limited  
   25.     Defence of justification  
   27.     Defence of absolute privilege  
   28.     Defence for publication of public documents  
   29.     Defences of fair report of proceedings of public concern  
   30.     Defence of qualified privilege for provision of certain information  
   31.     Defences of honest opinion  
   31A.    Defence for publications involving digital intermediaries  
   32.     Defence of innocent dissemination  

           Division 3--Remedies

   34.     Damages to bear rational relationship to harm  
   35.     Damages for non-economic loss limited  
   36.     State of mind of defendant generally not relevant to awarding damages  
   37.     Exemplary or punitive damages cannot be awarded  
   38.     Factors in mitigation of damages  
   39.     Damages for multiple causes of action may be assessed as single sum  
   39A.    Orders against non‑party digital intermediaries concerning defamatory digital matter  

           Division 4--Costs

   40.     Costs in defamation proceedings  

   PART 5--MISCELLANEOUS

   41.     Proof of publication  
   42.     Proof of convictions for offences  
   43.     Incriminating answers, documents or things  
   44.     Giving of notices and other documents  
   45.     Regulations  

   PART 6--TRANSITIONAL AND SAVINGS PROVISIONS

           Division 1--Act as originally enacted and Justice Legislation Amendment (Supporting Victims and Other Matters) Act 2020

   46.     Savings, transitional and other provisions for when Act originally enacted  

           Division 2--Justice Legislation Amendment (Integrity, Defamation and Other Matters) Act 2024

   48.     Definitions  
   49.     Digital intermediary amendments  
   50.     Offer amendments  
   51.     Preliminary discovery or non‑party digital intermediary order amendments  
   52.     Document giving or service amendments  
   53.     Absolute privilege amendments  
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           SCHEDULE 3
           ENDNOTES