Explainers
Defamation in Victoria: Why the Ten-Year Jail Threat Is Mostly a Distraction
Criminal defamation carries up to ten years in Victoria and is almost never prosecuted. The civil process is what happens: a serious-harm test, a compulsory concerns notice, a one-year clock, capped damages and uncapped costs. This is how it works, and what to keep if it is happening to you.
By B. O'Connell · 31 August 2026 · 6 min read