Consumer Affairs Victoria has confirmed that the $410,000 court penalty imposed on disgraced wellness influencer Belle Gibson has not been written off and continues to be actively pursued, almost a decade after the original Federal Court ruling.

The clarification came during a parliamentary estimates hearing, where officials addressed concerns raised by Victorian Nationals MP Jade Benham about whether the long-outstanding debt had effectively been abandoned as bad debt.Authorities reiterated that enforcement action remains ongoing.

Gibson was ordered in 2017 to pay the penalty after the Federal Court found she had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct by falsely claiming she had terminal brain cancer and other cancers, and that she had cured herself through diet and alternative therapies.She also falsely claimed that profits from her wellness brand, app, and cookbook would be donated to charity.Interest and additional penalties have since increased the total amount owed to more than $500,000.

During the hearing, Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Edbrooke stated he had no information suggesting the debt had been written off, while Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich confirmed it remains payable and will continue to be pursued as a court order.A spokesperson also confirmed that enforcement actions have continued over time, including previous attempts to seize assets from Gibson’s property.

The case has recently resurfaced in public attention following renewed media interest, including a Netflix dramatization that revisited Gibson’s rise and fall.

Officials, including Premier Jacinta Allan, have previously stated that the watchdog will continue to pursue the outstanding penalty without letting up, reinforcing that the matter remains active despite the passage of time.