Text as at 26 April 2026
This provision has not been checked by a human. The text below was read automatically from the official PDF and has not yet been verified against it, so it may differ from the provision as published — in its wording, its numbering, or where one provision ends and the next begins. For the authorised text, see legislation.vic.gov.au.

49ZA Defences to offences against children aged 16 or 17—reasonable belief as to care, supervision or authority

(1)It is a defence to a charge for an offence against section 49C(1), 49E(1), 49G(1) or 49L(1) if, at the time of the conduct constituting the offence, A reasonably believed that B was not under A's care, supervision or authority.
(2)It is a defence to a charge for an offence against section 49I(1) if, at the time of the conduct constituting the offence, A reasonably believed that C was not under A's care, supervision or authority.
(3)A bears the burden of proving (on the balance of probabilities) the matter referred to in subsection
(1)or (2).
References to A, B and C in this section are references to the same A, B and C referred to in sections 49C, 49E, 49G, 49I and 49L.