According to VIC Law for the charge of Threatening to contaminate goods ,

Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 250

Threatening to contaminate goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or economic loss

250. Threatening to contaminate goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or economic loss

(1) A person must not make a threat that goods will be contaminated with the intention of causing, or being reckless as to whether or not the threat would cause-

(a) public alarm or anxiety; or

(b) economic loss through public awareness of the threat.

Penalty: Level 5 imprisonment (10 years maximum) or a level 5 fine (1200 penalty units maximum) or both.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a threat may be made by any conduct, and may be explicit or implicit and conditional or unconditional.

Note Division 2B of Part 4 of the Sentencing Act 1991 provides for the making of cost recovery orders in respect of costs incurred by emergency service agencies in providing an immediate response to an emergency arising out of the commission of an offence against this section.

According to VIC Law for the charge of Threatening to contaminate goods ,

10 years' imprisonment

1200 penalty units

1. That a person intentionally or recklessly made a threat to contaminate goods

2. the intention (or reckless as to whether) that threat would cause public alarm or economic loss should it be made public

Factual dispute

Lack of intent

County Court