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WRONGS ACT 1958 - NOTES

Version No. 129

No. 6420 of 1958
Version incorporating amendments as at
18 November 2024

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Version No. 129

Wrongs Act 1958

No. 6420 of 1958
Version incorporating amendments as at
18 November 2024

Endnotes

    1     General information

See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

The Wrongs Act 1958 was assented to on 30 September 1958 and came into operation on 1 April 1959: Government Gazette 18 March 1959 page 893.

INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)

Style changes

Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.

References to ILA s. 39B

Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original section or clause.

Interpretation

As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:

•     Headings

All headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).

•     Examples, diagrams or notes

All examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).

•     Punctuation

All punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).

•     Provision numbers

All provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).

•     Location of "legislative items"

A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.

•     Other material

Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.
See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).

    2     Table of Amendments

This publication incorporates amendments made to the Wrongs Act 1958 by Acts and subordinate instruments.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Wrongs Act 1958, No. 6420/1958

Assent Date:

30.9.58

Commencement Date:

S. 28LACC(4) inserted on 19.11.15 by No. 62/2015 s. 10: s. 2; s. 28LZU(4) inserted on 19.11.15 by No. 62/2015 s. 13: s. 2

Note:

S. 28LACC(4) repealed s. 28LACC on 19.11.17; s. 28LZU(4) repealed s. 28LZU on 19.11.17

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs (Assessment of Damages) Act 1966, No. 7496/1966

Assent Date:

20.12.66

Commencement Date:

20.2.67: Government Gazette 8.2.67 p. 288

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Justices (Amendment) Act 1969, No. 7876/1969

Assent Date:

25.11.69

Commencement Date:

S. 2(Sch.) on 1.4.70: Government Gazette 25.2.70 p. 463

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Abolition of Obsolete Offences Act 1969, No. 7884/1969

Assent Date:

2.12.69

Commencement Date:

2.12.69

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs Act 1972, No. 8330/1972

Assent Date:

5.12.72

Commencement Date:

1.1.73: s. 1(3)

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Status of Children Act 1974, No. 8602/1974

Assent Date:

26.11.74

Commencement Date:

1.3.75: Government Gazette 5.2.75 p. 228

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Employers and Employés (Repeal) Act 1976, No. 8915/1976

Assent Date:

7.12.76

Commencement Date:

7.12.76: s. 1(2)

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs (Action for Damages) Act 1978, No. 9153/1978

Assent Date:

30.5.78

Commencement Date:

1.9.78: Government Gazette 12.7.78 p. 2279

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs (Defamation) Act 1979, No. 9292/1979

Assent Date:

23.10.79

Commencement Date:

23.10.79: s. 1(3)

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs (Assessment of Damages) Act 1979, No. 9353/1979

Assent Date:

20.12.79

Commencement Date:

20.12.79

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Crimes (Classification of Offences) Act 1981, No. 9576/1981

Assent Date:

26.5.81

Commencement Date:

1.9.81: Government Gazette 26.8.81 p. 2799

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Workers Compensation (Actions) Act 1981, No. 9683/1981

Assent Date:

5.1.82

Commencement Date:

5.1.82

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs (Defamation) Act 1981, No. 9708/1981

Assent Date:

5.1.82

Commencement Date:

5.1.82

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs (Dependants) Act 1982, No. 9856/1982

Assent Date:

5.1.83

Commencement Date:

21.12.82: s. 1(3) (same day as Administration and Probate (Survival of Actions) Act 1982)

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Limitation of Actions (Personal Injury Claims) Act 1983, No. 9884/1983

Assent Date:

10.5.83

Commencement Date:

11.5.83: Government Gazette 11.5.83 p. 1145

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Penalties and Sentences (Amendment) Act 1983, No. 9945/1983

Assent Date:

20.9.83

Commencement Date:

S. 3(3)(Sch. 2 item 42) on 20.12.83: Government Gazette 14.12.83 p. 4035

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Occupiers' Liability Act 1983, No. 9995/1983

Assent Date:

13.12.83

Commencement Date:

1.7.84: Government Gazette 27.6.84 p. 2120

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs (Animals Straying on Highways) Act 1984, No. 10078/1984

Assent Date:

15.5.84

Commencement Date:

1.8.84: Government Gazette 11.7.84 p. 2381

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Accident Compensation Act 1985, No. 10191/1985

Assent Date:

30.7.85

Commencement Date:

S. 276(Sch. 2) on 31.8.85 (at 4 p.m.): Government Gazette 30.8.85 p. 3401

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs (Contribution) Act 1985, No. 10227/1985

Assent Date:

10.12.85

Commencement Date:

12.2.86: Government Gazette 12.2.86 p. 382

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Coroners Act 1985, No. 10257/1985

Assent Date:

10.12.85

Commencement Date:

S. 93 on 1.6.86: Government Gazette 30.4.86 p. 1115

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Local Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1989, No. 12/1989

Assent Date:

9.5.89

Commencement Date:

S. 4(Sch. 2 item 136.1) on 1.11.89: Government Gazette 1.11.89 p. 2798

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Crimes Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1989, No. 25/1989

Assent Date:

6.6.89

Commencement Date:

Pt 7 (ss 38, 39) on 25.6.89: Special Gazette 20.6.89 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Magistrates' Court Act 1989, No. 51/1989

Assent Date:

14.6.89

Commencement Date:

S. 148 on 1.9.90: Government Gazette 25.7.90 p. 2216

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Magistrates' Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989, No. 57/1989

Assent Date:

14.6.89

Commencement Date:

S. 3(Sch. items 223.1–223.7) on 1.9.90: Government Gazette 25.7.90 p. 2217

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Legal Practice Act 1996, No. 35/1996

Assent Date:

6.11.96

Commencement Date:

S. 453(Sch. 1 item 90) on 1.1.97: s. 2(4)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Printers and Newspapers (Repeal) Act 1998, No. 56/1998

Assent Date:

13.10.98

Commencement Date:

S. 4 on 19.11.98: Government Gazette 19.11.98 p. 2792

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs (Amendment) Act 2000, No. 75/2000

Assent Date:

21.11.00

Commencement Date:

21.11.00: s. 2

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Wrongs and Other Acts (Public Liability Insurance Reform) Act 2002, No. 49/2002

Assent Date:

22.10.02

Commencement Date:

Ss 3–7, 9, 10 on 23.10.02: s. 2(1); s. 8 on 14.2.03: Government Gazette 13.2.03 p. 244; s. 11 on 15.3.03: Government Gazette 13.3.03 p. 419

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs and Limitation of Actions Acts (Insurance Reform) Act 2003, No. 60/2003 (as amended by No. 102/2003)

Assent Date:

16.6.03

Commencement Date:

Ss 4–10 on 21.5.03: s. 2(1); s. 3 on 1.1.04: Government Gazette 18.12.03 p. 3208

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs and Other Acts (Law of Negligence) Act 2003, No. 102/2003

Assent Date:

2.12.03

Commencement Date:

S. 14(2) on 21.5.03: s. 2(3); s. 6 on 1.10.03: s. 2(2); ss 3–5, 7–13, 14(1)(3)(4), 15–35 on 3.12.03: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs (Remarriage Discount) Act 2004, No. 6/2004

Assent Date:

27.4.04

Commencement Date:

28.4.04: s. 2

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Public Administration Act 2004, No. 108/2004

Assent Date:

21.12.04

Commencement Date:

S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 237) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette 31.3.05 p. 602

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Victoria State Emergency Service Act 2005, No. 51/2005

Assent Date:

24.8.05

Commencement Date:

S. 58(10)–(14) on 1.11.05: Government Gazette 20.10.05 p. 2308

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Defamation Act 2005, No. 75/2005

Assent Date:

2.11.05

Commencement Date:

S. 49(Sch. 4 item 3) on 1.1.06: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Health Professions Registration Act 2005, No. 97/2005

Assent Date:

7.12.05

Commencement Date:

S. 182(Sch. 4 item 55) on 1.7.07: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Education and Training Reform Act 2006, No. 24/2006

Assent Date:

16.5.06

Commencement Date:

S. 6.1.2(Sch. 7 item 49) on 1.7.07: Government Gazette 28.6.07 p. 1304

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Accident Compensation and Other Legislation (Amendment) Act 2006, No. 41/2006

Assent Date:

25.7.06

Commencement Date:

S. 48 on 26.7.06: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Relationships Act 2008, No. 12/2008

Assent Date:

15.4.08

Commencement Date:

S. 73(1)(Sch. 1 item 68) on 1.12.08: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Asbestos Diseases Compensation Act 2008, No. 69/2008

Assent Date:

25.11.08

Commencement Date:

Ss 12, 13 on 26.11.08: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Coroners Act 2008, No. 77/2008

Assent Date:

11.12.08

Commencement Date:

S. 129(Sch. 2 item 26) on 1.11.09: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Relationships Amendment (Caring Relationships) Act 2009, No. 4/2009

Assent Date:

10.2.09

Commencement Date:

S. 37(Sch. 1 item 30) on 1.12.09: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Criminal Procedure Act 2009, No. 7/2009 (as amended by No. 68/2009)

Assent Date:

10.3.09

Commencement Date:

S. 435(2) on 1.1.10: Government Gazette 10.12.09 p. 3215

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Criminal Procedure Amendment (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2009, No. 68/2009

Assent Date:

24.11.09

Commencement Date:

S. 97(Sch. item 137) on 1.1.10: Government Gazette 10.12.09 p. 3215

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions) Act 2009, No. 69/2009

Assent Date:

24.11.09

Commencement Date:

S. 54(Sch. Pt 2 item 59) on 1.1.10: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner Regulation) Act 2010, No. 13/2010

Assent Date:

30.3.10

Commencement Date:

S. 51(Sch. item 62) on 1.7.10: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Equal Opportunity Act 2010, No. 16/2010

Assent Date:

27.4.10

Commencement Date:

S. 209(Sch. item 11) on 1.8.11: s. 2(4)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Fair Trading Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act 2010, No. 72/2010

Assent Date:

19.10.10

Commencement Date:

S. 48(Sch. item 25) on 1.1.11: Special Gazette (No. 502) 20.12.10 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Transport Accident and Accident Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2010, No. 80/2010

Assent Date:

19.10.10

Commencement Date:

S. 160 on 20.10.10: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Business Names (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2011, No. 79/2011

Assent Date:

21.12.11

Commencement Date:

S. 41 on 28.5.12: Special Gazette (No. 151) 8.5.12 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, No. 20/2012

Assent Date:

1.5.12

Commencement Date:

S. 226(Sch. 5 item 27) on 26.11.12: Special Gazette (No. 384) 20.11.12 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Health Professions Registration (Repeal) Act 2012, No. 27/2012

Assent Date:

29.5.12

Commencement Date:

S. 30 on 1.7.12: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Open Courts Act 2013, No. 58/2013

Assent Date:

22.10.13

Commencement Date:

Ss 65, 66 on 1.12.13: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013, No. 67/2013

Assent Date:

12.11.13

Commencement Date:

S. 649(Sch. 9 item 36) on 1.7.14: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Treasury Legislation and Other Acts Amendment Act 2014, No. 44/2014

Assent Date:

27.6.14

Commencement Date:

S. 33(Sch. item 34) on 30.6.14: s. 2(5)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Inquiries Act 2014, No. 67/2014

Assent Date:

23.9.14

Commencement Date:

S. 147(Sch. 2 item 47) on 15.10.14: Special Gazette (No. 364) 14.10.14 p. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs Amendment (Asbestos Related Claims) Act 2015, No. 2/2015

Assent Date:

10.3.15

Commencement Date:

Ss 3–5 on 11.3.15: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs Amendment (Prisoner Related Compensation) Act 2015, No. 22/2015

Assent Date:

16.6.15

Commencement Date:

S. 3 on 17.6.15: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs Amendment Act 2015, No. 62/2015

Assent Date:

18.11.15

Commencement Date:

Ss 4–13 on 19.11.15: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Wrongs Amendment (Organisational Child Abuse) Act 2017, No. 12/2017

Assent Date:

27.3.17

Commencement Date:

S. 3 on 1.7.17: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Justice Legislation Amendment (Court Security, Juries and Other Matters) Act 2017, No. 38/2017

Assent Date:

29.8.17

Commencement Date:

S. 98 on 30.8.17: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Legal Identity of Defendants (Organisational Child Abuse) Act 2018, No. 18/2018

Assent Date:

5.6.18

Commencement Date:

S. 19 on 1.7.18: Special Gazette (No. 305) 26.6.18 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Serious Offenders Act 2018, No. 27/2018

Assent Date:

26.6.18

Commencement Date:

Ss 351(Sch. 4 cl. 24), 370 on 3.9.18: Special Gazette (No. 356) 31.7.18 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Local Government Act 2020, No. 9/2020

Assent Date:

24.3.20

Commencement Date:

S. 390(Sch. 1 item 114) on 6.4.20: Special Gazette (No. 150) 24.3.20 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Scheme) Act 2022, No. 21/2022

Assent Date:

7.6.22

Commencement Date:

Ss 89, 90 on 18.11.24: Special Gazette (No. 610) 12.11.24 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2023, No. 26/2023

Assent Date:

10.10.23

Commencement Date:

Ss 68–72 on 11.10.23: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Wrongs Act 1958

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    3     Explanatory details

[1] S. 15 (Repealed): Sections 7 and 8 of the Wrongs (Dependants) Act 1982, No. 9856/1982 reads as follows:

        7     Transitional provisions

    (1)     The Principal Act as amended by this Act shall apply only to causes of actions which accrue after the commencement of this Act.

    (2)     The Principal Act as in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue to apply to actions which accrued on or before the commencement of this Act.

        8     Transitional provisions

Where a cause of action survives for the benefit of the estate of a deceased person by reason of the operation of section 29 of the Administration and Probate Act 1958 and where proceedings in respect of that cause of action have been instituted at the date of the coming into operation of this Act whereby damages are being claimed for the loss of future probable earnings of the deceased person after the date of his death and where by reason of the coming into operation of the Administration and Probate (Survival of Actions) Act 1982 the right to recover those damages is removed, a person—

        (a)     who would have been entitled to share in those damages had that action been successful; and

        (b)     who would, if the deceased person had died after the coming into operation of this Act, be entitled to bring an action under Part III of the Wrongs Act 1958 but who would not have been entitled to bring such an action


before the coming into operation of this Act—

shall be entitled to bring an action under that Part (notwithstanding section 20(1) of the Wrongs Act 1958) as if the deceased person had died on the day upon which this Act comes into operation.

[2] S. 17: See note 1.

[3] S. 24: See note 1.

[4] Ss 24(4A):

S. 24(4A) inserted by No. 8330 s. 3(1)(a), repealed by No. 10227 s. 8(c)(i).

[5] Ss 24(6):

S. 24(6) substituted by No. 8330 s. 3(1)(b), amended by No. 9856 s. 5(b), repealed by No. 10227 s. 8(c)(i).

[6] S. 26: See note 1.


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