• Specific Year
    Any

WRONGS ACT 1958

Table of Provisions

  • 1 Short title and commencement  
  • 2 Repeals and savings  
  • 2A Offences under this Act deemed to be indictable offences  

PART I--CRIMINAL DEFAMATION AND THE REPORTING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS

  • 4 No action maintainable against a person for faithfully reporting  
  • 9 Publishing any libel with intent to extort money  
  • 10 Publisher of false defamatory libel  
  • 11 Trial for defamatory libel  
  • 13 Costs  
  • 13AA Transitional  

PART IA--PUBLISHERS

  • 13A Application of Part  
  • 13B Definitions  
  • 13C Identification of publisher  
  • 13D Transitional provisions  

PART II--SEDUCTION

  • 14 Proof of loss of service in actions of seduction unnecessary  

PART IIA--OCCUPIERS' LIABILITY

  • 14A Definitions  
  • 14B Liability of occupiers  
  • 14C Liability of Crown  
  • 14D Application of Part V  
  • 14E Transitional  

PART IIB--NEGLIGENCE--INTOXICATION AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

  • 14F Common law  
  • 14G Consideration of intoxication and illegal activity  
  • 14H Application  

PART IIC--APOLOGIES

  • 14I Definitions  
  • 14J Apology not admission of liability  
  • 14K Reduction or waiver of fees  
  • 14L Application  

PART III--WRONGFUL ACT OR NEGLECT CAUSING DEATH

  • 16 Liability for death caused wrongfully  
  • 17 Action for death caused wrongfully[2]  
  • 18 Action for damages by persons interested  
  • 19 Assessment of damages  
  • 19A Limitation on damages for loss of gratuitous care  
  • 19B Calculation of damages for gratuitous care  
  • 19C Application of sections 19A and 19B  
  • 20 Application to court as to cause of action under this Part  
  • 21 Particulars of demand  
  • 22 Payment into court  
  • 23 Mental or nervous shock  
  • 23AA Regulations  
  • 23AB Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 23AC Transitional for gratuitous care  
  • 23AD Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 23AE Transitional for assessment of damages  

PART IV--CONTRIBUTION

  • 23A Definitions  
  • 23B Entitlement to contribution  
  • 24 Recovery of contribution[3]  
  • 24AAA When employer not liable to indemnify third party in relation to an injury  
  • 24AA Proceedings against persons jointly liable for the same debt or damage  
  • 24AB Successive actions against persons liable (jointly or otherwise) for the same damage  
  • 24AC Application to the Crown  
  • 24AD Savings  
  • 24ADA Transitional and validating for Part IV—Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2023  

PART IVAA--PROPORTIONATE LIABILITY

  • 24AE Definitions  
  • 24AF Application of Part  
  • 24AG What claims are excluded from this Part?  
  • 24AH Who is a concurrent wrongdoer?  
  • 24AI Proportionate liability for apportionable claims  
  • 24AJ Contribution not recoverable from defendant  
  • 24AK Subsequent actions  
  • 24AL Joining non-party concurrent wrongdoer in the action  
  • 24AM What if a defendant is fraudulent?  
  • 24AN Liability for contributory negligence not affected  
  • 24AO Effect of Part IV  
  • 24AP Part not to affect other liability  
  • 24AQ Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 24AR Regulations  
  • 24AS Transitional  

PART IVA--ABOLITION OF DOCTRINE OF COMMON EMPLOYMENT

  • 24A Abolition of doctrine of common employment  

PART V--CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE

  • 25 Definitions  
  • 26 Liability for contributory negligence[6]  

Division 7--of Part X also contains provisions relating to contributory negligence.

  • 27 Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 28 Non-application of this Part  
  • 28AA Transitional provision  
  • 28AAB Transitional and validating for Part V—Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2023  

PART VA--ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES

  • 28A Damages for deprivation or impairment of earning capacity  

PART VB--PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES

  • 28B Definitions  
  • 28C Application of Part  
  • 28D General regulation of court awards  
  • 28E Part does not give rise to any cause of action  
  • 28F Damages for past or future economic loss—maximum for loss of earnings etc.  
  • 28G Fixing damages for non-economic loss  
  • 28H Indexation of certain amounts—consumer price index  
  • 28HAA Indexation—no reduction  
  • 28HAAB Indexation—rounding  
  • 28HA Tariffs for damages for non-economic loss  
  • 28I Damages for future economic loss—discount rate  
  • 28IA Limitation on damages for gratuitous attendant care  
  • 28IB Calculation of damages  
  • 28IC Other laws not to be affected  
  • 28ID Court may award damages for loss of capacity to provide gratuitous care to dependants  
  • 28IE Calculation of damages for gratuitous care  
  • 28IF Sections 28ID(2) to (5) and 28IE do not apply to certain actions for damages  
  • 28J Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 28K Regulations  
  • 28L Transitional  
  • 28LA Transitional for gratuitous attendant care services  
  • 28LAB Transitional for tariffs for damages for non-economic loss  
  • 28LAC Transitional for gratuitous care  
  • 28LACA Transitionals—Wrongs Amendment Act 2015  
  • 28LACB Power to resolve transitional difficulties in proceeding—Wrongs Amendment Act 2015  

PART VBAA--AWARDS OF DAMAGES RELATED TO DEATH OR INJURY OF PRISONERS

  • 28LAD Definitions  
  • 28LAE Application of Part  
  • 28LAF Assessment of damages  
  • 28LAG Criminal record  
  • 28LAH Transitional  

PART VBA--THRESHOLDS IN RELATION TORECOVERY OF DAMAGES FOR NON‑ECONOMIC LOSS

Division 1--Introductory

  • 28LB Definitions  
  • 28LC Application of Part  
  • 28LD This Part is substantive law  

Division 2--Restriction on recovery of damages for non‑economic loss

  • 28LE Restriction on recovery of damages for non‑economic loss  
  • 28LF What is significant injury?  

Division 3--Assessment of impairment

  • 28LG Who can assess impairment?  
  • 28LH How is the degree of impairment to be assessed?  
  • 28LI Assessment of certain impairments  
  • 28LJ Regard not to be had to secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment  
  • 28LK Assessment of hearing impairment  
  • 28LL Assessment in relation to injuries arising out of the same incident  
  • 28LM Prescribed methods for assessment  
  • 28LN Certificate of assessment  
  • 28LNA Certificate where injury not stabilised  

Division 4--Procedure for claim fornon-economic loss

  • 28LO Agreement to waive assessment of impairment  
  • 28LP What if the respondent asks for more information?  
  • 28LQ What if the respondent disputes responsibility?  
  • 28LR Can a respondent bind any other respondent?  
  • 28LT Copy of certificate of assessment to be served on respondent  
  • 28LU Multiple respondents  
  • 28LV Limitation period suspended  
  • 28LW Response to medical assessment  
  • 28LWA What if the respondent asks for more information?  
  • 28LWB What if the respondent disputes responsibility?  
  • 28LWC Can a respondent bind any other respondent?  
  • 28LWD Statement not admission of liability  
  • 28LWE Referral of medical question to Medical Panel  
  • 28LX Respondent to pay costs of referral  
  • 28LXA Administration  

Division 5--Procedure of Medical Panel

  • 28LY Application  
  • 28LZ Procedure of Medical Panel  
  • 28LZA Respondent must provide information to Medical Panel  
  • 28LZB What if there is more than one referral in relation to an assessment?  
  • 28LZC What can a Medical Panel ask a claimant to do?  
  • 28LZD Attendance before Medical Panel to be private  
  • 28LZE Medical Panel can ask a registered health practitioner to attend  
  • 28LZF Protection of information given to Medical Panel  
  • 28LZG Determination of Panel  
  • 28LZGA Further assessment  
  • 28LZH Effect of determination as to threshold level  
  • 28LZI Limitations on appeal in relation to assessments and determinations  
  • 28LZJ Treating medical practitioner not to be on Medical Panel  
  • 28LZK Validity of acts or decisions  
  • 28LZL Operation of Panel provisions of the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013  

Division 6--Proceedings on claim

  • 28LZM Provision of assessment information to court  
  • 28LZMA Power of court to stay proceeding until certificate of assessment and other information is served  
  • 28LZN Alternative procedure for special cases  

Division 7--General

  • 28LZO Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 28LZP Regulations  
  • 28LZQ Transitional  
  • 28LZR Transitional—Wrongs Amendment (Asbestos Related Claims) Act 2015  
  • 28LZS Transitionals—Wrongs Amendment Act 2015  
  • 28LZT Power to resolve transitional difficulties in proceeding—Wrongs Amendment Act 2015  

PART VC--STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS

  • 28M Definitions  
  • 28N Court may make order for structured settlement  

PART VI--DAMAGE BY AIRCRAFT

  • 29 Definitions  
  • 30 Limitation of liability for trespass or nuisance by flying over property  
  • 31 Liability for damage by aircraft or articles falling therefrom  

PART VIA--GOOD SAMARITAN PROTECTION

  • 31A Definition  
  • 31B Protection of good samaritans  
  • 31C Application of section 31B  
  • 31D Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  

PART VIB--FOOD DONOR PROTECTION

  • 31E Interpretation  
  • 31F Protection of food donors  
  • 31G Application of section 31F  
  • 31H Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  

PART VII--ABOLITION OF LIABILITY IN TORT FOR MAINTENANCE OR CHAMPERTY

  • 32 Abolition of liability in maintenance or champerty  

PART VIII--ANIMALS STRAYING ON TO A HIGHWAY

  • 33 Liability for negligence for animals on highway  

PART IX--VOLUNTEER PROTECTION

  • 34 Definitions  
  • 35 Meaning of volunteer  
  • 36 Meaning of community work  
  • 37 Protection of volunteers from liability  
  • 38 Exceptions to section 37(1)  
  • 39 Provisions concerning the liability of community organisations  
  • 40 Certain indemnities etc. have no effect  
  • 41 Application of section 37  
  • 42 Regulations  

PART X--NEGLIGENCE

Division 1--Preliminary

  • 43 Definitions  
  • 44 Application of Part  
  • 45 Exclusions from Part  
  • 46 Application to contract  
  • 47 Effect of this Part on the common law  

Division 2--Duty of care

  • 48 General principles  
  • 49 Other principles  
  • 50 Duty to warn of risk—reasonable care  

Division 3--Causation

  • 51 General principles  
  • 52 Burden of proof  

Division 4--Awareness of risk

  • 53 Meaning of obvious risk  
  • 54 Voluntary assumption of risk  
  • 55 No liability for materialisation of inherent risk  
  • 56 Plaintiff to prove unawareness of risk  

Division 5--Negligence of professionals and persons professing particular skills

  • 57 Definition  
  • 58 Standard of care to be expected of persons holding out as possessing a particular skill  
  • 59 Standard of care for professionals  
  • 60 Duty to warn of risk  

Division 6--Non-delegable duties and vicarious liability

  • 61 Liability based on non-delegable duty  

Division 7--Contributory negligence

  • 62 Standard of care for contributory negligence  
  • 63 Contributory negligence can defeat claim  

Division 8--General

PART XI--MENTAL HARM

  • 67 Definitions  
  • 68 Application of Part  
  • 69 Exclusions from Part  
  • 70 Application to contract  
  • 71 Effect of this Part on the common law  
  • 72 Mental harm—duty of care  
  • 73 Limitation on recovery of damages for pure mental harm arising from shock  
  • 74 Limitation on recovery of damages for consequential mental harm  
  • 75 Liability for economic loss for mental harm  
  • 76 Regulations  
  • 77 Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 78 Transitional  

PART XII--LIABILITY OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

  • 79 Definitions  
  • 80 Application of Part  
  • 81 Exclusions from Part  
  • 82 Effect of this Part on the common law  
  • 83 Principles concerning resources, responsibilities etc. of public authorities  
  • 84 Wrongful exercise of or failure to exercise function  
  • 85 Exercise of function or decision to exercise does not create duty  
  • 86 Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
  • 87 Transitional  

PART XIII--ORGANISATIONAL LIABILITY FOR CHILD ABUSE

  • 88 Definitions  
  • 89 Application of Part  
  • 90 When is an individual associated with a relevant organisation?  
  • 91 Liability of organisations  
  • 92 Entity may nominate body to be sued  
  • 93 Transitional  

PART XIV--TRANSITIONAL PROVISION

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