Craig McLachlan's defamation trial against the ABC, Fairfax and an actor has been delayed until after criminal proceedings in Victoria are completed.

Key points: Mr McLachlan's defamation case was due to begin next month

Mr McLachlan's defamation case was due to begin next month His lawyer argued airing allegations about his client in that trial could prejudice a criminal case against him

His lawyer argued airing allegations about his client in that trial could prejudice a criminal case against him Defence barrister Tom Blackburn SC argued the defamation case may not be heard in court until 2021

Mr McLachlan is suing over a story in which three of his female co-stars accused him of inappropriate conduct during the 2014 tour of The Rocky Horror Show.

Last week he was charged with indecent and common assault in Victoria, and today his lawyer Stuart Littlemore QC applied to have the defamation proceedings delayed until those criminal charges are dealt with.

Justice Lucy McCallum granted a stay on the trial — only two weeks before it was scheduled to start on February 4 — saying the result of the defamation proceedings would have been prejudicial to Mr McLachlan's criminal trial.

Justice McCallum said if the defamation trial went ahead Mr McLachlan would face a dilemma where he "will either have to conduct the defamation proceedings with one hand tied behind his back and likely lose, or waive his privilege against self incrimination."

"The cross examination of Mr McLachlan in the civil proceedings would likely become a feature of the criminal proceedings," she said.

"The weight afforded to the privilege against self-incrimination is paramount."

Earlier, Mr Littlemore argued airing allegations about his client in the defamation action might prejudice the criminal proceedings.

"The reality is the entirety of the defence to the civil case is that it is true the applicant is guilty of the indent assaults," he said.

He argued that because defamation cases are judged on the balance of probabilities, running that trial first "raises real issues of injustice, potential injustice".

The barrister representing the defendants, Tom Blackburn SC, argued a stay would lead to an unacceptable delay in proceedings.

"There is evidence … that the (criminal) proceedings are unlikely to come up in Victoria for another 18 months," he said.

"Then of course this court will have to find another four-week window … and the reality is this case is not going to get on until 2021 … which will be about seven years after the events in the Rocky Horror Show occurred.

"That is deeply unsatisfactory from the point of view of recollection memory, it's a very substantial delay."

Mr Blackburn said the actor who is a defendant in the defamation action is now facing abuse online.

"It's not just a matter of stress and anxiety [to that defendant] caused by having the defamation allegations made against her and the social media abuse … her reputation is at stake in this just as much as the applicant is," he said.

"She is going to be branded a liar and a fabricator."