Are punitive damages common in Australia?

• A. Yes, they are common
• B. No, they are rare
• C. They are never awarded
• D. Only in civil cases

Answer: (B)

Punitive damages in Australia are not a routine remedy. In civil cases, the default aim is to compensate the plaintiff for loss, not to punish the defendant. Punitive (or exemplary) damages are available only in exceptional situations where the defendant’s conduct is highly reprehensible—oppressive, malicious, or high-handed—and even then they are awarded infrequently due to strict standards and statutory limits. This combination means they are rare, not common. The other statements don’t fit because punitive damages are not universally awarded, they are not completely unavailable, and they do occur in civil matters—but only in limited, clearly defined circumstances.