Youth bail in Victoria is decided under the Bail Act 1977, first by police or a bail justice, and then by the Children’s Court. Since the 2025 bail reforms, community safety is a central consideration, and the principle that remand is a last resort for a child has been removed, so bail for young people is harder to obtain than it once was.
Bushfire-related offences in Victoria run from lighting a fire on a total fire ban day, which carries up to 2 years, to intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire, which carries up to 15 years, and arson causing death, which carries up to 25 years. Even an accidental fire can lead to charges if the law considers your conduct reckless.
A Commonwealth charge is an offence against federal law, investigated by the Australian Federal Police and prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. A state charge is against Victorian law, run by Victoria Police. Both are heard in Victorian courts, but they use different sentencing and parole systems, and that changes how a case is defended.
In Victoria, carrying a weapon such as a knife in a public place without a lawful excuse is a criminal offence. A controlled weapon carries up to 1 year in prison, and a prohibited weapon, which now includes machetes, carries up to 2 years. Critically, self-defence is not a lawful excuse for carrying a weapon.
Growing cannabis is illegal in Victoria, and how serious the charge is depends almost entirely on the number of plants. It ranges from up to 1 year for a small crop the court accepts was not for sale, up to 25 years for a commercial quantity of 100 plants or more. The line between a personal crop and a commercial one is where these cases are won or lost.
