Assault Charges in Australia

All Australian jurisdictions have a range of assault offences, ranging from common assault to more serious indictable offences like causing grievous bodily harm. This page deals with what to do if you have been charged with an assault offence.

Applying for bail on assault charges

A person charged with assault may be remanded in custody or released on bail. Bail may be granted by police or by a court. Courts decide whether to grant bail based on whether the person would be a risk to the community if they were released, and whether that risk could be mitigated by imposing bail conditions.

When bail is granted, conditions that may be imposed include:

• to live at a specified address
• to report to the local police at specified times
• not to consume alcohol or drugs
• not to contact certain people such as alleged victims
• to participate in rehabilitation programs

Pleading guilty to assault charges

If you have been charged with assault and want to plead guilty, you should first review the charges and allegations carefully. It is important to make sure you are actually guilty of the offence you have been charged with and that you accept the police summary of the facts. You should also consider whether there are any legal defences available to you.

If you are pleading guilty to assault, it may be in your interests to adjourn the matter to gather supporting material such as character references. If you are pleading guilty to an assault where drugs or alcohol were a factor, you may want to consider completing a rehabilitation program before finalising the charges. The court could then be asked to take this into account at sentencing.

Pleading not guilty to assault charges

If you have been charged with assault and want to plead not guilty, you should ensure you have a lawyer to represent you. Your matter will need to be adjourned to obtain the brief of evidence from the prosecution. It will then have to go through other procedural stages, which differ from state to state, before proceeding to a contested hearing.

At the contested hearing, the court will hear evidence from the prosecution. The defence will then have the opportunity to call witnesses as well. Both parties will make submissions and the court will then make a decision as to whether the accused has been proven guilty.

If they are found guilty, a sentence will be imposed.

Defences to assault charges

A person charged with assault may be able to rely on a legal defence or a factual defence.

Legal defences to assault include self-defence, duress and mental impairment. The defence of self-defence applies when the act was done while defending oneself or another person. The defence of duress applies when a person was essentially ’forced’ to commit an act by another person. The defence of mental impairment applies when the accused was unable to understand or control their actions.

Factual defences include alibis and mistaken identity.

Types of assault

There are five main types of assault charges in Australia. These are:

• common assault
• assault occasioning bodily harm
• unlawful wounding
• grievous bodily harm, and
• sexual assault.

The nature of the offence, the circumstances in which it occurred and the type of injury sustained will determine the charge that is laid. In some circumstances, the identity of the victim will also determine the appropriate charge.

Common assault

Common assault is the most frequent assault charge in Australia, and can result from a simple scuffle or argument. You can be charged with common assault if during an argument you threatened another person, or they received minor injuries from a push, shove, hit, or other contact. Spitting on another person or throwing an object at a person are also classed as common assault.

The penalty for a common assault will differ according to factors such as the state or territory in which it occurs, its severity, the extent of any harm, and the past criminal history of the offender.

Assault occasioning bodily harm

An assault occasioning bodily harm charge arises when the person who is attacked suffers an injury, such as bruising or swelling. Generally, the injury will be one which is severe enough to require medical treatment or time off work.

If the offence involved the use of a weapon, or the threat of a weapon, then the charge can be upgraded to aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm.

Unlawful wounding

If the assault caused the breaking or penetration of the skin which normally results in bleeding then you may be charged with unlawful wounding. If the outer skin is broken, but the injury hasn’t penetrated through the outer layer, then this cannot be classed as unlawful wounding. Normally medical evidence would be provided of the injury sustained to justify the charge.

Grievous bodily harm

Grievous bodily harm is a very serious form of assault which arises when the person attacked loses a distinct part of an organ, or suffers serious disfigurement or an injury that if left untreated would endanger the person’s life or cause permanent injury. This can include broken teeth or bones through to more life endangering injuries such as a head injury or severe internal bleeding.

Serious assault

A serious assault charge occurs when a public officer or police office is assaulted in the line of duty. A public officer includes a transit officer, health service employee, correctional officer, or a child protection officer.

The charge may arise in circumstances including where a person bites or spits on the officer, or pretends to be armed with a dangerous weapon. The charge can also result from assaulting a person who relies on a guide, hearing or assistant dog, is in a wheelchair, or is over 60 years of age.

Sexual assault

A sexual assault occurs when someone is touched inappropriately, forces someone to commit an act of gross indecency, or forces someone to witness an act of gross indecency. Gross indecency is an act which doesn’t result in penetration, such as watching someone masturbate, or forcing someone to touch their genitals.

Rape is the most serious form of sexual assault in which intercourse occurs without consent. Aggravated sexual assault occurs when a weapon is used, or threatened to be used, during the offence.

Penalties for assault offences

The penalties for the various types of offences vary depending on the nature of the offence and the offender’s criminal history. However, all carry a possible term of imprisonment with some being more than 10 years. The length of imprisonment varies between the different states and territories in Australia.

Other sentencing options are available for some assault offences such as fines, good behaviour bonds, probation, community correction orders, or a suspended sentence.

Getting advice from an assault lawyer

If you have been charged with assault, seek advice from a criminal lawyer as soon as possible. They will be able to discuss your prospects of bail, the likely penalty and whether you should contest the charge or plead guilty. If you are pleading guilty, they will be able to advise you of steps you can take to mitigate your offending.

If you require legal advice or representation in any legal matter, please contact Go To Court Lawyers.

Related Content

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Spending Serious Convictions (WA)

Suspended Sentences (SA)

Sentencing Options for Sex Offenders (NSW)

The Defence of Automatism (WA)

Sentencing Purposes (Qld)

Competence and Compellability of Witnesses

Evidence Improperly Obtained: Bunning v Cross

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What Does “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” Mean?

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What Happens During Examination-in-Chief?

Personal Searches in Australia

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Is assault different in each Australian state?

Yes. Each state and territory has its own criminal legislation. Each state defines assault offences differently and the maximum penalty is different in each state. The penalties imposed also vary depending on the nature of the offence and the offender’s criminal history.

All assault offences carry a maximum penalty of imprisonment. In some jurisdictions, mandatory sentencing laws may apply. In a case where mandatory sentencing does not apply, a court may impose a non-custodial sentencing order such as a fine, good behaviour bond, or community correction order.

For more information about assault in a particular state, see below:

Queensland assault laws

The Legislation that governs assault offences differs in each state. In Queensland, the definitions and penalties for assault charges are located in chapters 30 and 32 of the Criminal Code 1899.

New South Wales assault laws

Divisions 6 and 9 of the Crimes Act 1900 govern offences against a person in New South Wales.

Victoria assault laws

In Victoria, section 31 of the Crimes Act 1958 outlines the types of assault offences with which a person can be charged.

Western Australia assault laws

Assault offences in Western Australia are defined in Part V of the Criminal Code 1913.

South Australia assault laws

In South Australia, they are found in Part 3 Division 7 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935.

Tasmania assault laws

The Criminal Code 1924 in Tasmania sets out assault offences in Parts IV and V.

Northern Territory assault laws

The Criminal Code of the Northern Territory sets them out in Part VI, Division 5.

Australian Capital Territory assault laws

In the ACT, assault offences are found in the Crimes Act 1900, Parts 2 and 3.

Legislation Sources

Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040

Criminal Code 2002 (ACT) – https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2002-51/

Criminal Code Act 1899 (QLD) – https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/inforce/current/act-1899-009

Crimes Act 1958 (VIC) – https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/crimes-act-1958/294

Criminal Code 1913 (WA) – https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_218_homepage.html

Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT) – https://legislation.nt.gov.au/en/Legislation/CRIMINAL-CODE-ACT-1983

Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) – https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/CRIMINAL%20LAW%20CONSOLIDATION%20ACT%201935.aspx

Police Offences Act 1935 (TAS) – https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1935-044

Criminal Code Act 1924 (TAS) – https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1924-069

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