Contents

Chapter 1--Preliminary                                                                                                     1

Part 1.1--Formal matters                                                                                                  1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ........................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 2

3............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 2

Part 1.2--Application of this Act                                                                                  3

4............ Courts and proceedings to which Act applies ..................................... 3

5............ Extended application of certain provisions .......................................... 4

6............ Territories ............................................................................................ 5

7............ Act binds Crown ................................................................................. 5

8............ Operation of other Acts etc. ................................................................ 6

8A......... Application of the Criminal Code ....................................................... 7

9............ Effect of Act on other laws ................................................................. 7

10.......... Parliamentary privilege preserved ....................................................... 8

11.......... General powers of a court ................................................................... 8

Chapter 2--Adducing evidence                                                                                     9

Part 2.1--Witnesses                                                                                                               9

Division 1--Competence and compellability of witnesses                          9

12.......... Competence and compellability ........................................................... 9

13.......... Competence: lack of capacity .............................................................. 9

14.......... Compellability: reduced capacity ....................................................... 10

15.......... Compellability: Sovereign and others ................................................ 11

16.......... Competence and compellability: judges and jurors ............................ 11

17.......... Competence and compellability: defendants in criminal proceedings 11

18.......... Compellability of spouses and others in criminal proceedings generally   12

19.......... Compellability of spouses and others in certain criminal proceedings 13

20.......... Comment on failure to give evidence ................................................ 14

Division 2--Oaths and affirmations                                                                    15

21.......... Sworn evidence of witnesses to be on oath or affirmation ................ 15

22.......... Interpreters to act on oath or affirmation ........................................... 15

23.......... Choice of oath or affirmation ............................................................ 15

24.......... Requirements for oaths ..................................................................... 16

Division 3--General rules about giving evidence                                         17

26.......... Court's control over questioning of witnesses .................................. 17

27.......... Parties may question witnesses ......................................................... 17

28.......... Order of examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination 17

29.......... Manner and form of questioning witnesses and their responses ....... 17

30.......... Interpreters ........................................................................................ 18

31.......... Deaf and mute witnesses ................................................................... 18

32.......... Attempts to revive memory in court .................................................. 18

33.......... Evidence given by police officers ...................................................... 19

34.......... Attempts to revive memory out of court ............................................ 19

35.......... Effect of calling for production of documents ................................... 20

36.......... Person may be examined without subpoena or other process ........... 20

Division 4--Examination in chief and re-examination                              21

37.......... Leading questions ............................................................................. 21

38.......... Unfavourable witnesses .................................................................... 21

39.......... Limits on re-examination ................................................................... 23

Division 5--Cross-examination                                                                              24

40.......... Witness called in error ....................................................................... 24

41.......... Improper questions ........................................................................... 24

42.......... Leading questions ............................................................................. 25

43.......... Prior inconsistent statements of witnesses ........................................ 26

44.......... Previous representations of other persons ......................................... 26

45.......... Production of documents .................................................................. 27

46.......... Leave to recall witnesses ................................................................... 28

Part 2.2--Documents                                                                                                          29

47.......... Definitions ........................................................................................ 29

48.......... Proof of contents of documents ........................................................ 29

49.......... Documents in foreign countries ........................................................ 31

50.......... Proof of voluminous or complex documents .................................... 31

51.......... Original document rule abolished ...................................................... 31

Part 2.3--Other evidence                                                                                                 32

52.......... Adducing of other evidence not affected ........................................... 32

53.......... Views ................................................................................................ 32

54.......... Views to be evidence ........................................................................ 33

Chapter 3--Admissibility of evidence                                                                      34

Part 3.1--Relevance                                                                                                            36

55.......... Relevant evidence .............................................................................. 36

56.......... Relevant evidence to be admissible ................................................... 36

57.......... Provisional relevance ........................................................................ 36

58.......... Inferences as to relevance .................................................................. 37

Part 3.2--Hearsay                                                                                                                 38

Division 1--The hearsay rule                                                                                  38

59.......... The hearsay rule--exclusion of hearsay evidence ............................. 38

60.......... Exception: evidence relevant for a non-hearsay purpose ................... 39

61.......... Exceptions to the hearsay rule dependent on competency ................. 40

Division 2--First-hand hearsay                                                                             41

62.......... Restriction to "first-hand" hearsay .................................................... 41

63.......... Exception: civil proceedings if maker not available ........................... 41

64.......... Exception: civil proceedings if maker available ................................. 42

65.......... Exception: criminal proceedings if maker not available ..................... 42

66.......... Exception: criminal proceedings if maker available ........................... 45

66A....... Exception: contemporaneous statements about a person's health etc. 46

67.......... Notice to be given ............................................................................. 46

68.......... Objections to tender of hearsay evidence in civil proceedings if maker available      47

Division 3--Other exceptions to the hearsay rule                                       48

69.......... Exception: business records .............................................................. 48

70.......... Exception: contents of tags, labels and writing .................................. 49

71.......... Exception: electronic communications ............................................... 49

72.......... Exception: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional laws and customs         50

73.......... Exception: reputation as to relationships and age .............................. 50

74.......... Exception: reputation of public or general rights ............................... 51

75.......... Exception: interlocutory proceedings ................................................ 51

Part 3.3--Opinion                                                                                                                 52

76.......... The opinion rule ................................................................................ 52

77.......... Exception: evidence relevant otherwise than as opinion evidence ..... 53

78.......... Exception: lay opinions ..................................................................... 53

78A....... Exception: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional laws and customs         53

79.......... Exception: opinions based on specialised knowledge ....................... 53

80.......... Ultimate issue and common knowledge rules abolished ................... 54

Part 3.4--Admissions                                                                                                          55

81.......... Hearsay and opinion rules: exception for admissions and related representations     55

82.......... Exclusion of evidence of admissions that is not first-hand ................ 55

83.......... Exclusion of evidence of admissions as against third parties ............ 56

84.......... Exclusion of admissions influenced by violence and certain other conduct               56

85.......... Criminal proceedings: reliability of admissions by defendants .......... 56

86.......... Exclusion of records of oral questioning ........................................... 57

87.......... Admissions made with authority ....................................................... 58

88.......... Proof of admissions .......................................................................... 58

89.......... Evidence of silence ............................................................................ 58

90.......... Discretion to exclude admissions ...................................................... 59

Part 3.5--Evidence of judgments and convictions                                           60

91.......... Exclusion of evidence of judgments and convictions ........................ 60

92.......... Exceptions ......................................................................................... 60

93.......... Savings ............................................................................................. 61

Part 3.6--Tendency and coincidence                                                                        62

94.......... Application ........................................................................................ 62

95.......... Use of evidence for other purposes ................................................... 62

96.......... Failure to act ...................................................................................... 62

97.......... The tendency rule .............................................................................. 62

98.......... The coincidence rule .......................................................................... 63

99.......... Requirements for notices ................................................................... 64

100........ Court may dispense with notice requirements ................................... 64

101........ Further restrictions on tendency evidence and coincidence evidence adduced by prosecution   65

Part 3.7--Credibility                                                                                                           66

Division 1--Credibility evidence                                                                           66

101A..... Credibility evidence ........................................................................... 66

Division 2--Credibility of witnesses                                                                    67

102........ The credibility rule ............................................................................ 67

103........ Exception: cross-examination as to credibility ................................... 67

104........ Further protections: cross-examination of accused ............................ 67

106........ Exception: rebutting denials by other evidence .................................. 68

108........ Exception: re-establishing credibility ................................................. 69

Division 3--Credibility of persons who are not witnesses                       70

108A..... Admissibility of evidence of credibility of person who has made a previous representation     70

108B..... Further protections: previous representations of an accused who is not a witness    70

Division 4--Persons with specialised knowledge                                          72

108C..... Exception: evidence of persons with specialised knowledge ............. 72

Part 3.8--Character                                                                                                            73

109........ Application ........................................................................................ 73

110........ Evidence about character of accused persons .................................... 73

111........ Evidence about character of co-accused ............................................ 73

112........ Leave required to cross-examine about character of accused or co-accused              74

Part 3.9--Identification evidence                                                                                75

113........ Application of Part ............................................................................ 75

114........ Exclusion of visual identification evidence ........................................ 75

115........ Exclusion of evidence of identification by pictures ........................... 76

116........ Directions to jury .............................................................................. 78

Part 3.10--Privileges                                                                                                           79

Division 1--Client legal privilege                                                                          79

117........ Definitions ........................................................................................ 79

118........ Legal advice ...................................................................................... 80

119........ Litigation ........................................................................................... 81

120........ Unrepresented parties ........................................................................ 81

121........ Loss of client legal privilege: generally ............................................. 81

122........ Loss of client legal privilege: consent and related matters ................. 82

123........ Loss of client legal privilege: defendants ........................................... 83

124........ Loss of client legal privilege: joint clients .......................................... 83

125........ Loss of client legal privilege: misconduct .......................................... 84

126........ Loss of client legal privilege: related communications and documents 84

Division 1A--Journalists' privilege                                                                     86

126G..... Definitions ........................................................................................ 86

126H..... Protection of journalists' sources ...................................................... 86

Division 2--Other privileges                                                                                   87

127........ Religious confessions ....................................................................... 87

128........ Privilege in respect of self-incrimination in other proceedings .......... 87

128A..... Privilege in respect of self-incrimination--exception for certain orders etc               90

Division 3--Evidence excluded in the public interest                                 93

129........ Exclusion of evidence of reasons for judicial etc. decisions .............. 93

130........ Exclusion of evidence of matters of state .......................................... 94

131........ Exclusion of evidence of settlement negotiations .............................. 95

Division 4--General                                                                                                     98

131A..... Extended application of Division 1A ................................................ 98

131B..... Extended application of Division 1A etc. to all proceedings for Commonwealth offences        98

132........ Court to inform of rights to make applications and objections .......... 99

133........ Court may inspect etc. documents ..................................................... 99

134........ Inadmissibility of evidence that must not be adduced or given .......... 99

Part 3.11--Discretionary and mandatory exclusions                                    100

135........ General discretion to exclude evidence ............................................ 100

136........ General discretion to limit use of evidence ...................................... 100

137........ Exclusion of prejudicial evidence in criminal proceedings .............. 100

138........ Discretion to exclude improperly or illegally obtained evidence ...... 100

139........ Cautioning of persons ..................................................................... 101

Chapter 4--Proof                                                                                                               104

Part 4.1--Standard of proof                                                                                        104

140........ Civil proceedings: standard of proof ............................................... 104

141........ Criminal proceedings: standard of proof ......................................... 104

142........ Admissibility of evidence: standard of proof .................................. 105

Part 4.2--Judicial notice                                                                                                 106

143........ Matters of law ................................................................................. 106

144........ Matters of common knowledge ....................................................... 106

145........ Certain Crown certificates ............................................................... 107

Part 4.3--Facilitation of proof                                                                                    108

Division 1--General                                                                                                   108

146........ Evidence produced by processes, machines and other devices ........ 108

147........ Documents produced by processes, machines and other devices in the course of business      108

148........ Evidence of certain acts of justices, lawyers and notaries public ..... 109

149........ Attestation of documents ................................................................. 109

150........ Seals and signatures ........................................................................ 109

151........ Seals of bodies established under State law .................................... 111

152........ Documents produced from proper custody ..................................... 111

Division 2--Matters of official record                                                             112

153........ Gazettes and other official documents ............................................. 112

154........ Documents published by authority of Parliaments etc. .................... 113

155........ Evidence of official records ............................................................. 113

155A..... Evidence of Commonwealth documents ......................................... 114

156........ Public documents ............................................................................ 114

157........ Public documents relating to court processes .................................. 115

158........ Evidence of certain public documents ............................................. 116

159........ Official statistics .............................................................................. 116

Division 3--Matters relating to post and communications                   118

160........ Postal articles .................................................................................. 118

161........ Electronic communications .............................................................. 118

162........ Lettergrams and telegrams ............................................................... 119

163........ Proof of letters having been sent by Commonwealth agencies ........ 119

Part 4.4--Corroboration                                                                                                121

164........ Corroboration requirements abolished ............................................ 121

Part 4.5--Warnings and information                                                                     122

165........ Unreliable evidence ......................................................................... 122

165A..... Warnings in relation to children's evidence ..................................... 123

165B..... Delay in prosecution ....................................................................... 124

Part 4.6--Ancillary provisions                                                                                    125

Division 1--Requests to produce documents or call witnesses            125

166........ Definition of request ....................................................................... 125

167........ Requests may be made about certain matters ................................... 126

168........ Time limits for making certain requests ........................................... 126

169........ Failure or refusal to comply with requests ...................................... 127

Division 2--Proof of certain matters by affidavits or written statements            129

170........ Evidence relating to certain matters ................................................. 129

171........ Persons who may give such evidence ............................................. 129

172........ Evidence based on knowledge, belief or information ...................... 130

173........ Notification of other parties ............................................................. 131

Division 3--Foreign law                                                                                           132

174........ Evidence of foreign law .................................................................. 132

175........ Evidence of law reports of foreign countries ................................... 132

176........ Questions of foreign law to be decided by judge ............................ 133

Division 4--Procedures for proving other matters                                   134

177........ Certificates of expert evidence ......................................................... 134

178........ Convictions, acquittals and other judicial proceedings .................... 135

179........ Proof of identity of convicted persons--affidavits by members of State or Territory police forces          136

180........ Proof of identity of convicted persons--affidavits by AFP employees or special members of the Australian Federal Police .............................................................................................. 136

181........ Proof of service of statutory notifications, notices, orders and directions 137

Chapter 5--Miscellaneous                                                                                             138

182........ Application of certain sections in relation to Commonwealth records, postal articles sent by Commonwealth agencies and certain Commonwealth documents .................................................. 138

183........ Inferences ........................................................................................ 140

184........ Accused may admit matters and give consents ................................ 140

185........ Faith and credit to be given to documents properly authenticated .... 140

186........ Swearing of affidavits before justices of the peace, notaries public and lawyers       140

187........ Abolition of the privilege against self-incrimination for bodies corporate                 141

188........ Impounding documents ................................................................... 141

189........ The voir dire ................................................................................... 142

190........ Waiver of rules of evidence ............................................................. 143

191........ Agreements as to facts .................................................................... 144

192........ Leave, permission or direction may be given on terms .................... 144

192A..... Advance rulings and findings ......................................................... 145

193........ Additional powers ........................................................................... 145

194........ Witnesses failing to attend proceedings ........................................... 146

195........ Prohibited question not to be published .......................................... 146

196........ Proceedings for offences ................................................................. 146

197........ Regulations ..................................................................................... 147

Schedule--Oaths and Affirmations                                                                         148

Dictionary                                                                                                                                 149

Part 1--Definitions                                                                                                             149

Part 2--Other Expressions                                                                                            160

1............ References to businesses ................................................................. 160

2............ References to examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination               160

3............ References to civil penalties ............................................................ 161

4............ Unavailability of persons ................................................................ 161

5............ Unavailability of documents and things .......................................... 162

6............ Representations in documents ......................................................... 162

7............ Witnesses ........................................................................................ 163

8............ References to documents ................................................................. 163

8A......... References to offices etc. ................................................................. 163

9............ References to laws .......................................................................... 163

10.......... References to children and parents .................................................. 164

11.......... References to de facto partners ........................................................ 164

Notes                                                                                                                                            167

An Act about the law of evidence, and for related purposes

  

                   INTRODUCTORY NOTE

                   Outline of this Act

                         This Act sets out the federal rules of evidence. Generally speaking, the Act applies to proceedings in federal courts and ACT courts (see section 4), but some provisions extend beyond such proceedings (see Note 2 to subsection 4(1)).

                         Chapter 2 is about how evidence is adduced in proceedings.

                         Chapter 3 is about admissibility of evidence in proceedings.

                         Chapter 4 is about proof of matters in proceedings.

                         Chapter 5 deals with miscellaneous matters.

                         The Dictionary at the end of this Act defines terms and expressions used in this Act.

                   Related legislation

                         This Act is in most respects uniform with the Evidence Act 1995 of New South Wales. The 2 Acts are drafted in identical terms except so far as differences are identified in the Acts by appropriate annotations to the texts, and except so far as minor drafting variations are required because one Act is a Commonwealth Act and one Act is a New South Wales Act.

                         If one Act contains a provision that is not included in the other Act, the numbering of the other Act has a gap in the numbering in order to maintain consistent numbering for the other provisions.

Dictionary  

Section 3

Part 1--Definitions

ACT court means the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory or any other court of the Australian Capital Territory, and includes a person or body that, in performing a function or exercising a power under a law of the Australian Capital Territory, is required to apply the laws of evidence.

Note:          The NSW Act does not include this definition.

admission means a previous representation that is:

                     (a)  made by a person who is or becomes a party to a proceeding (including a defendant in a criminal proceeding); and

                     (b)  adverse to the person's interest in the outcome of the proceeding.

asserted fact is defined in section 59.

associated defendant, in relation to a defendant in a criminal proceeding, means a person against whom a prosecution has been instituted, but not yet completed or terminated, for:

                     (a)  an offence that arose in relation to the same events as those in relation to which the offence for which the defendant is being prosecuted arose; or

                     (b)  an offence that relates to or is connected with the offence for which the defendant is being prosecuted.

Australia includes the external Territories.

Australian court means:

                     (a)  the High Court; or

                     (b)  a court exercising federal jurisdiction; or

                     (c)  a court of a State or Territory; or

                     (d)  a judge, justice or arbitrator under an Australian law; or

                     (e)  a person or body authorised by an Australian law, or by consent of parties, to hear, receive and examine evidence; or

                      (f)  a person or body that, in exercising a function under an Australian law, is required to apply the laws of evidence.

Australian law means a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

Note:          See clause 9 of Part 2 of the Dictionary for the meaning of law.

Australian lawyer means a person who is admitted to the legal profession by a Supreme Court of a State or Territory under a law of a State or Territory specified in the regulations.

Australian legal practitioner means an Australian lawyer who holds a practising certificate under a law of a State or Territory specified in the regulations.

Australian or overseas proceeding means a proceeding (however described) in an Australian court or a foreign court.

Australian Parliament means the Parliament, a Parliament of a State or a Legislative Assembly of a Territory.

Australian practising certificate means a practising certificate granted under a law of a State or Territory specified in the regulations.

Australian-registered foreign lawyer means a person who is registered as a foreign lawyer under a law of a State or Territory specified in the regulations.

Australian Statistician means the Australian Statistician referred to in subsection 5(2) of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975, and includes any person to whom the powers of the Australian Statistician under section 12 of the Census and Statistics Act 1905 have been delegated.

business is defined in clause 1 of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

case of a party means the facts in issue in respect of which the party bears the legal burden of proof.

child means a child of any age and includes the meaning given in subclause 10(1) of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

civil penalty is defined in clause 3 of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

civil proceeding means a proceeding other than a criminal proceeding.

client is defined in section 117.

coincidence evidence means evidence of a kind referred to in subsection 98(1) that a party seeks to have adduced for the purpose referred to in that subsection.

coincidence rule means subsection 98(1).

Commonwealth agency means:

                     (a)  an Agency within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999; or

                     (b)  a House of the Parliament; or

                     (c)  a person or body holding office, or exercising power, under or because of the Constitution or a law of the Commonwealth; or

                     (d)  a body or organisation, whether incorporated or unincorporated, established for a public purpose:

                              (i)  by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a Territory (other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island); or

                             (ii)  by the Governor-General; or

                            (iii)  by a Minister.

Commonwealth document means:

                     (a)  a document in the nature of a form, application, claim or return, or any document of a similar kind, that has, in accordance with a Commonwealth law, or in connection with the provision of money or any other benefit or advantage by the Commonwealth, been filed or lodged with a Commonwealth entity or given or sent (including sent by a form of electronic transmission) to a Commonwealth entity; and

                     (b)  any of the following documents:

                              (i)  a report of the passengers or crew on a ship or aircraft that has been communicated to Customs under section 64ACA or 64ACB of the Customs Act 1901;

                            (ia)  a report relating to the passengers or crew on an aircraft or ship that has been communicated to the Department administered by the Minister who administers the Migration Act 1958 under Division 12B of Part 2 of that Act;

                             (ii)  a ship's inward cargo adjustment report delivered to an officer under subregulation 46(3) of the Customs Regulations;

                            (iii)  an entry made under the Customs Act 1901 or Excise Act 1901 in relation to goods;

                            (iv)  a form or statement given to a Collector under regulation 41 of the Customs Regulations;

                             (v)  a passenger card given to an officer under subregulation 3.01(3) of the Migration Regulations;

                            (vi)  a report referred to in section 46 of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 that has been given under that section to the Minister administering that Act;

                           (vii)  any other document prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

Commonwealth entity means:

                     (a)  an Agency within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999; or

                     (b)  the Parliament, a House of the Parliament, a committee of a House of the Parliament or a committee of the Parliament; or

                     (c)  a person or body other than a Legislative Assembly holding office, or exercising power, under or because of the Constitution or a law of the Commonwealth; or

                     (d)  a body or organisation other than a Legislative Assembly, whether incorporated or unincorporated, established for a public purpose:

                              (i)  by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a Territory (other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island); or

                             (ii)  by the Governor-General; or

                            (iii)  by a Minister; or

                     (e)  any other body or organisation that is a Commonwealth owned body corporate.

Commonwealth owned body corporate means a body corporate that, were the Commonwealth a body corporate, would, for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001, be:

                     (a)  a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Commonwealth; or

                     (b)  a wholly-owned subsidiary of another body corporate that is, under this definition, a Commonwealth owned body corporate because of the application of paragraph (a) (including the application of that paragraph together with another application or other applications of this paragraph).

Commonwealth record means a record made by:

                     (a)  an Agency within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999; or

                     (b)  the Parliament, a House of the Parliament, a committee of a House of the Parliament or a committee of the Parliament; or

                     (c)  a person or body other than a Legislative Assembly holding office, or exercising power, under or because of the Constitution or a law of the Commonwealth; or

                     (d)  a body or organisation other than a Legislative Assembly, whether incorporated or unincorporated, established for a public purpose:

                              (i)  by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a Territory (other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island); or

                             (ii)  by the Governor-General; or

                            (iii)  by a Minister; or

                     (e)  any other body or organisation that is a Commonwealth owned body corporate;

and kept or maintained by a person, body or organisation of a kind referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e), but does not include a record made by a person or body holding office, or exercising power, under or because of the Constitution or a law of the Commonwealth if the record was not made in connection with holding the office concerned, or exercising the power concerned.

confidential communication is defined in section 117.

confidential document is defined in section 117.

Note:          The NSW Act includes a definition of court.

credibility of a person who has made a representation that has been admitted in evidence means the credibility of the representation, and includes the person's ability to observe or remember facts and events about which the person made the representation.

credibility of a witness means the credibility of any part or all of the evidence of the witness, and includes the witness's ability to observe or remember facts and events about which the witness has given, is giving or is to give evidence.

credibility evidence is defined in section 101A.

credibility rule means section 102.

criminal proceeding means a prosecution for an offence and includes:

                     (a)  a proceeding for the committal of a person for trial or sentence for an offence; and

                     (b)  a proceeding relating to bail;

but does not include a prosecution for an offence that is a prescribed taxation offence within the meaning of Part III of the Taxation Administration Act 1953.

cross-examination is defined in subclause 2(2) of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

cross-examiner means a party who is cross-examining a witness.

de facto partner is defined in clause 11 of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

document means any record of information, and includes:

                     (a)  anything on which there is writing; or

                     (b)  anything on which there are marks, figures, symbols or perforations having a meaning for persons qualified to interpret them; or

                     (c)  anything from which sounds, images or writings can be reproduced with or without the aid of anything else; or

                     (d)  a map, plan, drawing or photograph.

Note:          See also clause 8 of Part 2 of this Dictionary on the meaning of document.

electronic communication has the same meaning as it has in the Electronic Transactions Act 1999.

examination in chief is defined in subclause 2(1) of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

exercise of a function includes performance of a duty.

fax, in relation to a document, means a copy of the document that has been reproduced by facsimile telegraphy.

federal court means:

                     (a)  the High Court; or

                     (b)  any other court created by the Parliament (other than the Supreme Court of a Territory);

and includes a person or body (other than a court or magistrate of a State or Territory) that, in performing a function or exercising a power under a law of the Commonwealth, is required to apply the laws of evidence.

Note:          The NSW Act does not include this definition.

foreign court means any court (including any person or body authorised to take or receive evidence, whether on behalf of a court or otherwise and whether or not the person or body is empowered to require the answering of questions or the production of documents) of a foreign country or a part of such a country.

function includes power, authority or duty.

government or official gazette includes the Gazette.

Note 1:       The definition of government or official gazette differs from the definition of the same expression in the NSW Act.

Note 2:       The NSW Act includes definitions of Governor of a State and Governor-General. Those terms are not defined in this Act because they are defined in sections 16A and 16B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

hearsay rule means subsection 59(1).

identification evidence means evidence that is:

                     (a)  an assertion by a person to the effect that a defendant was, or resembles (visually, aurally or otherwise) a person who was, present at or near a place where:

                              (i)  the offence for which the defendant is being prosecuted was committed; or

                             (ii)  an act connected to that offence was done;

                            at or about the time at which the offence was committed or the act was done, being an assertion that is based wholly or partly on what the person making the assertion saw, heard or otherwise perceived at that place and time; or

                     (b)  a report (whether oral or in writing) of such an assertion.

investigating official means:

                     (a)  a police officer (other than a police officer who is engaged in covert investigations under the orders of a superior); or

                     (b)  a person appointed by or under an Australian law (other than a person who is engaged in covert investigations under the orders of a superior) whose functions include functions in respect of the prevention or investigation of offences.

joint sitting means:

                     (a)  in relation to the Parliament--a joint sitting of the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives convened by the Governor-General under section 57 of the Constitution or convened under any Act; or

                     (b)  in relation to a bicameral legislature of a State--a joint sitting of both Houses of the legislature convened under a law of the State.

judge, in relation to a proceeding, means the judge, magistrate or other person before whom the proceeding is being held.

law is defined in clause 9 of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

leading question means a question asked of a witness that:

                     (a)  directly or indirectly suggests a particular answer to the question; or

                     (b)  assumes the existence of a fact the existence of which is in dispute in the proceeding and as to the existence of which the witness has not given evidence before the question is asked.

legal counsel means an Australian lawyer employed in or by a government agency or other body who by law is exempted from holding an Australian practising certificate, or who does not require an Australian practising certificate, to engage in legal practice in the course of that employment.

Note:          Examples of legal counsel are in-house counsel and government solicitors.

Legislative Assembly means any present or former Legislative Assembly of a Territory, and includes the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly.

offence means an offence against or arising under an Australian law.

opinion rule means section 76.

overseas-registered foreign lawyer means a natural person who is properly registered to engage in legal practice in a foreign country by an entity in the country having the function, conferred by the law of the country, of registering persons to engage in legal practice in the country.

parent includes the meaning given in subclause 10(2) of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

picture identification evidence is defined in section 115.

police officer means:

                     (a)  a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police; or

                     (b)  a member of the police force of a State or Territory.

postal article has the same meaning as in the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989.

previous representation means a representation made otherwise than in the course of giving evidence in the proceeding in which evidence of the representation is sought to be adduced.

prior consistent statement of a witness means a previous representation that is consistent with evidence given by the witness.

prior inconsistent statement of a witness means a previous representation that is inconsistent with evidence given by the witness.

probative value of evidence means the extent to which the evidence could rationally affect the assessment of the probability of the existence of a fact in issue.

prosecutor means a person who institutes or is responsible for the conduct of a prosecution.

public document means a document that:

                     (a)  forms part of the records of the Crown in any of its capacities; or

                     (b)  forms part of the records of the government of a foreign country; or

                     (c)  forms part of the records of a person or body holding office or exercising a function under or because of the Constitution, an Australian law or a law of a foreign country; or

                     (d)  is being kept by or on behalf of the Crown, such a government or such a person or body;

and includes the records of the proceedings of, and papers presented to:

                     (e)  an Australian Parliament, a House of an Australian Parliament, a committee of such a House or a committee of an Australian Parliament; and

                      (f)  a legislature of a foreign country, including a House or committee (however described) of such a legislature.

re-examination is defined in subclauses 2(3) and (4) of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

registered, in relation to legal practice in a foreign country, means having all necessary licences, approvals, admissions, certificates or other forms of authorisation (including practising certificates) required by or under legislation for engaging in legal practice in that country.

representation includes:

                     (a)  an express or implied representation (whether oral or in writing); or

                     (b)  a representation to be inferred from conduct; or

                     (c)  a representation not intended by its maker to be communicated to or seen by another person; or

                     (d)  a representation that for any reason is not communicated.

seal includes a stamp.

tendency evidence means evidence of a kind referred to in subsection 97(1) that a party seeks to have adduced for the purpose referred to in that subsection.

tendency rule means subsection 97(1).

traditional laws and customs of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander group (including a kinship group) includes any of the traditions, customary laws, customs, observances, practices, knowledge and beliefs of the group.

visual identification evidence is defined in section 114.

witness includes the meaning given in clause 7 of Part 2 of this Dictionary.

 

Part 2--Other Expressions

1  References to businesses

             (1)  A reference in this Act to a business includes a reference to the following:

                     (a)  a profession, calling, occupation, trade or undertaking;

                     (b)  an activity engaged in or carried on by the Crown in any of its capacities;

                     (c)  an activity engaged in or carried on by the government of a foreign country;

                     (d)  an activity engaged in or carried on by a person holding office or exercising power under or because of the Constitution, an Australian law or a law of a foreign country, being an activity engaged in or carried on in the performance of the functions of the office or in the exercise of the power (otherwise than in a private capacity);

                     (e)  the proceedings of an Australian Parliament, a House of an Australian Parliament, a committee of such a House or a committee of an Australian Parliament;

                      (f)  the proceedings of a legislature of a foreign country, including a House or committee (however described) of such a legislature.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to a business also includes a reference to:

                     (a)  a business that is not engaged in or carried on for profit; or

                     (b)  a business engaged in or carried on outside Australia.

2  References to examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination

             (1)  A reference in this Act to examination in chief of a witness is a reference to the questioning of a witness by the party who called the witness to give evidence, not being questioning that is re-examination.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to cross-examination of a witness is a reference to the questioning of a witness by a party other than the party who called the witness to give evidence.

             (3)  A reference in this Act to re-examination of a witness is a reference to the questioning of a witness by the party who called the witness to give evidence, being questioning (other than further examination in chief with the leave of the court) conducted after the cross-examination of the witness by another party.

             (4)  If a party has recalled a witness who has already given evidence, a reference in this Act to re-examination of a witness does not include a reference to the questioning of the witness by that party before the witness is questioned by another party.

3  References to civil penalties

                   For the purposes of this Act, a person is taken to be liable to a civil penalty if, in an Australian or overseas proceeding (other than a criminal proceeding), the person would be liable to a penalty arising under an Australian law or a law of a foreign country.

4  Unavailability of persons

             (1)  For the purposes of this Act, a person is taken not to be available to give evidence about a fact if:

                     (a)  the person is dead; or

                     (b)  the person is, for any reason other than the application of section 16 (Competence and compellability: judges and jurors), not competent to give the evidence about the fact; or

                     (c)  it would be unlawful for the person to give evidence about the fact; or

                     (d)  a provision of this Act prohibits the evidence being given; or

                     (e)  all reasonable steps have been taken, by the party seeking to prove the person is not available, to find the person or to secure his or her attendance, but without success; or

                      (f)  all reasonable steps have been taken, by the party seeking to prove the person is not available, to compel the person to give the evidence, but without success.

             (2)  In all other cases the person is taken to be available to give evidence about the fact.

5  Unavailability of documents and things

                   For the purposes of this Act, a document or thing is taken not to be available to a party if and only if:

                     (a)  it cannot be found after reasonable inquiry and search by the party; or

                     (b)  it was destroyed by the party, or by a person on behalf of the party, otherwise than in bad faith, or was destroyed by another person; or

                     (c)  it would be impractical to produce the document or thing during the course of the proceeding; or

                     (d)  production of the document or thing during the course of the proceeding could render a person liable to conviction for an offence; or

                     (e)  it is not in the possession or under the control of the party and:

                              (i)  it cannot be obtained by any judicial procedure of the court; or

                             (ii)  it is in the possession or under the control of another party to the proceeding concerned who knows or might reasonably be expected to know that evidence of the contents of the document, or evidence of the thing, is likely to be relevant in the proceeding; or

                            (iii)  it was in the possession or under the control of such a party at a time when that party knew or might reasonably be expected to have known that such evidence was likely to be relevant in the proceeding.

6  Representations in documents

                   For the purposes of this Act, a representation contained in a document is taken to have been made by a person if:

                     (a)  the document was written, made or otherwise produced by the person;

                     (b)  the representation was recognised by the person as his or her representation by signing, initialling or otherwise marking the document.

7  Witnesses

             (1)  A reference in this Act to a witness includes a reference to a party giving evidence.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to a witness who has been called by a party to give evidence includes a reference to the party giving evidence.

             (3)  A reference in this clause to a party includes a defendant in a criminal proceeding.

8  References to documents

                   A reference in this Act to a document includes a reference to:

                     (a)  any part of the document; or

                     (b)  any copy, reproduction or duplicate of the document or of any part of the document; or

                     (c)  any part of such a copy, reproduction or duplicate.

8A  References to offices etc.

                   In this Act:

                     (a)  a reference to a person appointed or holding office under or because of an Australian law or a law of the Commonwealth includes a reference to an APS employee; and

                     (b)  in that context, a reference to an office is a reference to the position occupied by the APS employee concerned.

9  References to laws

             (1)  A reference in this Act to a law of the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory or a foreign country is a reference to a law (whether written or unwritten) of or in force in that place.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to an Australian law is a reference to an Australian law (whether written or unwritten) of or in force in Australia.

10  References to children and parents

             (1)  A reference in this Act to a child of a person includes a reference to:

                     (a)  an adopted child or ex-nuptial child of the person; or

                     (b)  a child living with the person as if the child were a member of the person's family.

             (2)  A reference in this Act to a parent of a person includes a reference to:

                     (a)  an adoptive parent of the person; or

                     (b)  if the person is an ex-nuptial child--the person's natural father; or

                     (c)  the person with whom a child is living as if the child were a member of the person's family.

11  References to de facto partners

             (1)  A reference in this Act to a de facto partner of a person is a reference to a person who is in a de facto relationship with the person.

             (2)  A person is in a de facto relationship with another person if the two persons have a relationship as a couple and are not legally married.

             (3)  In determining whether two persons are in a de facto relationship, all the circumstances of the relationship are to be taken into account, including such of the following matters as are relevant in the circumstances of the particular case:

                     (a)  the duration of the relationship;

                     (b)  the nature and extent of their common residence;

                     (c)  the degree of financial dependence or interdependence, and any arrangements for financial support, between them;

                     (d)  the ownership, use and acquisition of their property;

                     (e)  the degree of mutual commitment to a shared life;

                      (f)  the care and support of children;

                     (g)  the reputation and public aspects of the relationship.

             (4)  No particular finding in relation to any circumstance is to be regarded as necessary in deciding whether two persons have a relationship as a couple.

             (5)  For the purposes of subclause (3), the following matters are irrelevant:

                     (a)  whether the persons are different sexes or the same sex;

                     (b)  whether either of the persons is legally married to someone else or in another de facto relationship.

Notes to the Evidence Act 1995

Note 1

The Evidence Act 1995 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 2, 1995 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For application, saving or transitional provisions made by the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, see Act No. 55, 2001.

For all other relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Evidence Act 1995	2, 1995	23 Feb 1995	Ss. 4-197 and Schedule: 18 Apr 1995 Remainder: Royal Assent
Family Law Reform (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995	140, 1995	12 Dec 1995	Schedule 2: 26 Dec 1995 (a)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Schedule 2 (item 54): (b)	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997	34, 1997	17 Apr 1997	Schedule 6: Royal Assent (c)	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1999	125, 1999	13 Oct 1999	Schedule 6: Royal Assent (d)	--
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (items 434-437): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (e)	--
Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999	156, 1999	24 Nov 1999	Schedule 12 (items 1, 24): 24 Nov 2000 (f)	--
Australian Federal Police Legislation Amendment Act 2000	9, 2000	7 Mar 2000	2 July 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S328)	Sch. 3 (items 20, 25, 34, 35)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	24, 2001	6 Apr 2001	S. 4(1), (2) and Schedule 25: (g)	S. 4(1) and (2)
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	Ss. 4-14 and Schedule 3 (items 174, 175): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (h)	Ss. 4-14 [see Note 1]
Border Security Legislation Amendment Act 2002	64, 2002	5 July 2002	Schedule 6 (items 16-18): 5 Jan 2003	--
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Legislation Amendment Act 2003	126, 2003	5 Dec 2003	5 Dec 2003	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2004	62, 2004	26 May 2004	Schedule 1 (item 17): 27 May 2004	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2005	100, 2005	6 July 2005	Schedule 1 (item 14): Royal Assent	--
Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006	46, 2006	22 May 2006	Schedule 3 (items 1, 8): 1 July 2006	Sch. 3 (item 8)
Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Act 2007	116, 2007	28 June 2007	Schedule 1 (items 1, 2): 26 July 2007	--
Evidence Amendment Act 2008	135, 2008	4 Dec 2008	Schedule 1 (items 1-99) and Schedule 2 (items 1-13): 1 Jan 2009	Sch. 1 (items 95-99) and Sch. 2 (item 13)
Customs Legislation Amendment (Name Change) Act 2009	33, 2009	22 May 2009	Schedule 2 (item 30): 23 May 2009	--
Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009	70, 2009	8 July 2009	Schedule 3 (item 32): 5 Aug 2009	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2010	8, 2010	1 Mar 2010	Schedule 1 (item 26): Royal Assent	--
Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Act 2011	21, 2011	12 Apr 2011	Schedule 1 (items 1-3): 13 Apr 2011	--
Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011	46, 2011	27 June 2011	Schedule 2 (item 566) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011	Sch. 3 (items 10, 11)
Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011	132, 2011	18 Nov 2011	Schedule 1 (item 260A): [see Note 2]	--

(a)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 2 only of the Family Law Reform (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995, subsection 2(5) of which provides as follows:

                 (5)   Schedule 2 commences 14 days after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(b)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 2 (item 54) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 1996, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

                 (2)   Each item in Schedule 2 commences or is taken to have commenced (as the case requires) at the time specified in the note at the end of the item.

         Item 54 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of section 130 of the Evidence Act 1995.

         Section 130 commenced on 18 April 1995.

(c)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 6 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(d)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 6 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(e)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 434-437) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

                 (2)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(f)      The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 12 (items 1 and 24) only of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act 1999, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

                 (4)   If an item in Schedule 11 or 12 does not commence under subsection (2) within the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.

(g)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 25 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1)(a) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the later of the following times:

                              (a)   immediately after the commencement of item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000;

         Item 15 commenced on 24 May 2001.

(h)     The Evidence Act 1995 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 174 and 175) only of the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:

                 (3)   Subject to subsections (4) to (10), Schedule 3 commences, or is taken to have commenced, at the same time as the Corporations Act 2001.

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Chapter 1
Introductory Note .............	am. No. 100, 2005
Part 1.1
S. 3......................................	am. No. 46, 2011
Part 1.2
S. 4 .....................................	am. No. 140, 1995; No. 135, 2008
Note 4 to s. 4(1) ................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 4(6) ...................	am. No. 140, 1995
S. 5 .....................................	am. No. 125, 1999; No. 135, 2008
S. 8 .....................................	am. No. 156, 1999; No. 55, 2001
S. 8A ..................................	ad. No. 24, 2001
Chapter 2
Part 2.1
Division 1
S. 13 ...................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 14 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Ss. 18, 19 ...........................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 20 ...................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 135, 2008
Division 2
S. 21 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 25 ...................................	rep. No. 135, 2008
Division 3
S. 29 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 33 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Division 4
S. 37 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Division 5
S. 41 ...................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 43 ...................................	am. No. 34, 1997
Part 2.2
Note to s. 47 ......................	ad. No. 125, 1999
S. 48 ...................................	am. No. 125, 1999
Note to s. 48
Renumbered Note 1 .....	No. 125, 1999
Note 2 to s. 48 ...................	ad. No. 125, 1999
Note to s. 49 ......................	ad. No. 125, 1999
S. 50 ...................................	am. No. 125, 1999; No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 51 ......................	am. No. 125, 1999
Chapter 3
Introductory Note .............	am. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.2
Division 1
S. 59 ...................................	am. No. 125, 1999; No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 59(3) .................	am. No. 135, 2008
Ss. 60, 61 ...........................	am. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 61(2) .................	am. No. 135, 2008
Division 2
Heading to s. 62 ...............	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 62 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 63 ...................................	am. No. 125, 1999
Ss. 64, 65 ...........................	am. No. 125, 1999; No. 135, 2008
S. 66 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 66A ................................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 68(4) .................	ad. No. 34, 1997
Division 3
Note 1 to s. 70(2) ..............	am. No. 34, 1997
Ss. 71, 72 ...........................	rs. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.3
S. 76 ...................................	am. No. 125, 1999
Note to s. 76 ......................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 78A ................................	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 79 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.4
S. 82 ...................................	am. No. 125, 1999
Note to s. 82 ......................	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 85 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 89 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.6
S. 97 ...................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 98 ...................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.7
Division 1
Div. 1 of Part 3.7 ...............	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 101A ..............................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Division 2
Heading to Div. 2 of Part 3.7............................	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 102 .................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 102
Renumbered Note 1 .....	No. 34, 1997
Note 1 to s. 102 .................	am. No. 34, 1997
	rs. No. 135, 2008
Note 2 to s. 102 .................	ad. No. 34, 1997
	rs. No. 135, 2008
Ss. 103, 104 .......................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 105 .................................	rep. No. 135, 2008
S. 106 .................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 107 .................................	rep. No. 34, 1997
S. 108 .................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 135, 2008
Division 3
Heading to Div. 3 of ......... Part 3.7	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 108A ..............................	ad. No. 34, 1997
	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 108B ..............................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Division 4
Div. 4 of Part 3.7 ...............	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 108C ..............................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.8
S. 110 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 112 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.9
S. 114 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Part 3.10
Division 1
Ss. 117, 118 .......................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 120 .................................	am. No. 34, 1997
S. 122 .................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
Division 1A
Div. 1A of Part 3.10 ...........	ad. No. 116, 2007
	rs. No. 21, 2011
Ss. 126A-126F ..................	ad. No. 116, 2007
	rep. No. 21, 2011
Ss. 126G, 126H..................	ad. No. 21, 2011
Division 2
S. 128 .................................	am. No. 34, 1997
	rs. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 128(7) ...............	ad. No. 34, 1997
	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 128A ..............................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Division 3
S. 130 .................................	am. No. 43, 1996
Division 4
S. 131A ..............................	ad. No. 116, 2007
	am. No. 21, 2011
S. 131B ..............................	ad. No. 21, 2011
Part 3.11
Heading to Part 3.11 ........	rs. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 138(3) ...............	am. No. 70, 2009
S. 139 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Chapter 4
Part 4.3
Division 1
Note to s. 147 ....................	am. No. 125, 1999
S. 148 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 149 ....................	am. No. 125, 1999
Note to s. 152 ....................	am. No. 125, 1999
Division 2
Note to s. 154 ....................	rep. No. 34, 1997
Note 1 to s. 155 .................	rs. No. 34, 1997
S. 155A ..............................	ad. No. 125, 1999
Note 1 to s. 158 .................	rep. No. 34, 1997
Division 3
Note to s. 160 ....................	am. No. 125, 1999
S. 161 .................................	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 163 .................................	am. No. 125, 1999
Part 4.5
Heading to Part 4.5 ..........	rs. No. 135, 2008
S. 165 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Ss. 165A, 165B ..................	ad. No. 135, 2008
Part 4.6
Division 1
Note to heading to Div. 1 of Part 4.6	am. No. 125, 1999
Division 2
Note to heading to Div. 2 of Part 4.6	am. No. 125, 1999
Note to s. 170(1) ...............	ad. No. 34, 1997
S. 171 .................................	am. No. 9, 2000; No. 62, 2004
Division  4
Heading to s. 180 .............	am. No. 9, 2000
S. 180 .................................	am. No. 9, 2000
Chapter 5
Heading to s. 182 .............	am. No. 125, 1999
S. 182 .................................	am. No. 125, 1999; No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 183 ....................	am. No. 125, 1999
S. 184 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 186 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 189 .................................	am. No. 8, 2010
S. 190 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
Note to s. 190(1) ...............	ad. No. 46, 2006
S. 191 .................................	am. No. 135, 2008
S. 192A ..............................	ad. No. 135, 2008
S. 195 .................................	am. No. 24, 2001
Dictionary
Dictionary .........................	am. No. 34, 1997; Nos. 125 and 146, 1999; No. 9, 2000; No. 55, 2001; No. 64, 2002; No. 126, 2003; No. 135, 2008; No. 33, 2009

Note 2

Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 (No. 132, 2011)

The following amendment commences on 1 July 2012:

Schedule 1

260A  Part 1 of the Dictionary (subparagraph (b)(vi) of the definition of Commonwealth document)

After "section 46", insert "or 46A".

As at 21 March 2012 the amendment is not incorporated in this compilation.

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Australian Federal Police Legislation Amendment Act 2000 (No. 9, 2000)

Schedule 3

20  Definition

In this Part:

commencing time means the time when this Part commences.

25  Amendments of the Evidence Act 1995

Evidence given by police officers

(1)       Section 33 of the Evidence Act 1995 as in force at and after the commencing time applies as if a reference in that section to a police officer included a reference to a person who was a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police at any time before the commencing time.

Exclusion of records of oral questioning

(2)       Section 86 of the Evidence Act 1995 as in force at and after the commencing time applies as if a reference in that section to an investigating official included a reference to a person who was a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police at any time before the commencing time.

Exclusion of evidence of identification by pictures

(3)       Section 115 of the Evidence Act 1995 as in force at and after the commencing time applies as if a reference in that section to a police officer included a reference to a person who was a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police at any time before the commencing time.

Proof of certain matters

(4)       Section 171 of the Evidence Act 1995 as in force at and after the commencing time applies as if a reference in that section to an authorised person included a reference to a person who was:

                     (a)  a member of the Australian Federal Police at or above the rank of sergeant; or

                     (c)  a staff member of the Australian Federal Police whose salary was at least equal to that of a sergeant in the Australian Federal Police;

at any time before the commencing time.

Fingerprint affidavits

(5)       Section 180 of the Evidence Act 1995 as in force at and after the commencing time applies to an affidavit made under that section at any time before the commencing time in the same way as it does to an affidavit made under that section at or after the commencing time.

34  Warrants or writs etc. may continue to be executed

If, immediately before the commencing time, any warrant, writ, order, permission or other instrument (the authority) issued under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory could be executed by a person who was at that time a member, staff member or special member of the Australian Federal Police, the authority continues to be able to be executed at and after the commencing time by the person in his or her capacity as:

                     (a)  the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police; or

                     (b)  a Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police; or

                     (c)  an AFP employee; or

                     (d)  a special member of the Australian Federal Police;

(all within the meaning of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 as in force at and after the commencing time).

Note:          A person who is a member or staff member of the Australian Federal Police immediately before the commencing time is taken to be engaged as an AFP employee. Similarly, a person who is a special member of the Australian Federal Police immediately before the commencing time is taken to be appointed as a special member. See item 2 of this Schedule.

35  Regulations dealing with matters of a transitional or saving nature

(1)       The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with any other provision of this Schedule, prescribing matters of a transitional or saving nature in relation to the amendments made by Schedule 1 or 2.

(2)       Regulations made under this item within one year after the commencement of this item may commence on a day earlier than the day on which they are made, but not earlier than the commencement of this item.

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 24, 2001)

4  Application of amendments

             (1)  Subject to subsection (3), each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.

Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006
(No. 46, 2006)

Schedule 3

8  Application of amendments

The amendments made by Part 1 of this Schedule apply:

                     (a)  to proceedings commenced by an application filed on or after 1 July 2006; and

                     (b)  to proceedings commenced by an application filed before 1 July 2006, if the parties to the proceedings consent and the court grants leave.

Evidence Amendment Act 2008 (No. 135, 2008)

Schedule 1

95  Proceedings already begun

(1)       Subject to this Part, the amendments made by this Schedule do not apply in relation to proceedings the hearing of which began before the commencement of this Schedule.

(2)       The Evidence Act 1995, as in force immediately before that commencement, continues to apply in relation to proceedings the hearing of which began before that commencement.

96  Admissions

(1)       The amendment made by this Schedule to section 85 of the Evidence Act 1995 does not apply in relation to admissions made before the commencement of this Schedule.

(2)       That section, as in force immediately before that commencement, continues to apply in relation to admissions made before that commencement.

97  Failure or refusal to answer questions etc.

(1)       The amendment made by this Schedule to section 89 of the Evidence Act 1995 does not apply in relation to any failure or refusal, before the commencement of this Schedule:

                     (a)  to answer one or more questions; or

                     (b)  to respond to a representation.

(2)       That section, as in force immediately before that commencement, continues to apply in relation to any such failure or refusal before that commencement.

98  Prior operation of notice provisions

If, before the commencement of this Schedule, a notice in writing of a kind referred to in section 97 or 98 of the Evidence Act 1995 is given:

                     (a)  in the circumstances provided for in that section; and

                     (b)  in accordance with such requirements (if any) as would apply to the giving of the notice under that section after that commencement;

the notice is taken to have been given under that section as in force after that commencement.

99  Disclosure orders

Section 128A of the Evidence Act 1995 as inserted by this Schedule does not apply in relation to any disclosure order made before the commencement of this Schedule.

Schedule 2

13  Application of amendments

The amendments made by this Schedule do not apply in relation to proceedings the hearing of which began before the commencement of this item.

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 (No. 46, 2011)

Schedule 3

10  Saving--appointments

The amendments made by Schedule 2 do not affect the validity of an appointment that was made under an Act before the commencement of this item and that was in force immediately before that commencement.

11  Transitional regulations

The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 1 and 2.