What is the definition of "assault" under New South Wales legislation?

The definition of "assault" under New South Wales legislation is specifically characterized as an act that causes a person to fear immediate unlawful violence. This legal definition emphasizes the psychological aspect of assault, where the victim experiences apprehension or fear of being harmed, even if no physical contact has occurred.

This interpretation reflects the understanding that assault is not solely about physical action; it encompasses the threat of violence that can lead to fear in an individual. The key component here is the immediacy of the threat, meaning that the fear must be of violence that is about to happen or is very likely to occur directly.

Assessing the other options, unwanted physical contact refers more closely to battery rather than assault, an attempt to cause physical injury is an indication of intent but does not meet the threshold for assault without an element of fear, and a verbal threat may not suffice unless it creates a genuine fear of imminent harm. Thus, the comprehensive view of assault in New South Wales centers on that immediate sense of fear resulting from unlawful threats, making the selected definition the correct one.