Victorian law aims to help sexual assault victims report crimes by providing defamation immunity

Exclusive: government hopes proposed law will encourage people to come forward to police without fear of legal action

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Victims of sexual assault and harassment will be immune to defamation lawsuits for reporting crimes to Victorian police under new legislation to end concerns that the threat of legal action was having a “chilling effect” on people coming forward.

The state government is set to introduce the justice legislation amendment (integrity, defamation and other matters) bill on Wednesday, which will also make it easier to gather evidence in family violence matters.

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