Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Local Government Act 1989 - SECT 57

False or defamatory statements

57. False or defamatory statements



(1) A person must not make or publish any false or defamatory statement in
relation to the personal character or conduct of a candidate.

Penalty: 10 penalty units if the offender is a natural person or 50 penalty
units if the offender is a corporation.

(2) It is a defence if the defendant proves that he or she had reasonable
grounds for believing and did in fact believe the statement made or published
to be true.