Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                                1

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

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

3............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 1

4............ References to evidence taken in an examination ................................. 5

5............ External Territories ............................................................................. 5

6............ Act to bind Crown .............................................................................. 5

Part 2--Examination of witnesses abroad                                                                 6

Division 1--Proceedings in superior courts                                                     6

7............ Orders for taking evidence abroad ...................................................... 6

8............ Directions and requests relating to orders .......................................... 6

9............ Use of evidence taken in an examination ............................................ 7

Division 2--Proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court and inferior courts               8

9A......... Orders for taking evidence abroad--Federal Magistrates Court ........ 8

10.......... Orders for taking evidence abroad--inferior courts ............................ 8

11.......... Orders for taking evidence abroad--family law matters .................... 9

12.......... Use of evidence taken in an examination ............................................ 9

Division 3--Subsequent proceedings                                                                 11

13.......... Directions for use in subsequent proceedings of evidence taken abroad 11

14.......... Use of that evidence in subsequent proceedings .............................. 11

Division 4--Miscellaneous                                                                                       12

15.......... Discretion to exclude evidence .......................................................... 12

16.......... Variation or revocation of orders ...................................................... 12

17.......... Courts may exercise certain powers in chambers ............................. 12

18.......... Operation of other laws .................................................................... 13

19.......... Rules of court ................................................................................... 13

Part 3--Use of foreign material in criminal and related civil proceedings 14

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             14

20.......... Proceedings to which this Part applies ............................................. 14

Division 2--Obtaining foreign material                                                             15

21.......... Requests for foreign material ............................................................ 15

22.......... Requirements for testimony ............................................................. 15

23.......... Form of testimony ............................................................................ 15

Division 3--Using foreign material                                                                      16

24.......... Foreign material may be adduced as evidence ................................... 16

25.......... Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced--general ........ 16

25A....... Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced--proceedings for designated offences 17

Division 4--Miscellaneous                                                                                       18

26.......... Certificates relating to foreign material ............................................. 18

27.......... Operation of other laws .................................................................... 18

Part 4--Use of foreign material and records of foreign business authorities in certain civil proceedings                                                                                                                                       19

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             19

28.......... Proceedings to which this Part applies ............................................. 19

Division 2--Obtaining foreign material                                                             20

29.......... Requests for foreign material ............................................................ 20

30.......... Requirements for testimony ............................................................. 20

31.......... Form of testimony ............................................................................ 20

Division 3--Using foreign material                                                                      21

32.......... Foreign material may be adduced as evidence ................................... 21

33.......... Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced ....................... 21

Division 4--Records of foreign business authorities                                 22

34.......... Evidence of records of foreign business authorities .......................... 22

Division 5--Miscellaneous                                                                                       23

35.......... Certificates relating to foreign material ............................................. 23

36.......... Operation of other laws .................................................................... 23

Part 5--Authenticating foreign public documents                                               24

37.......... Certificates attached to foreign public documents ............................ 24

38.......... Foreign public documents not requiring legalisation ......................... 24

39.......... Lesser formalities for authentication etc. .......................................... 25

Part 6--Taking evidence for proceedings in foreign courts                          26

40.......... Application of this Part .................................................................... 26

41.......... Exercise of powers under this Part ................................................... 26

42.......... Orders ............................................................................................... 26

43.......... Copies etc. of documents ................................................................. 27

44.......... Intervention ...................................................................................... 27

45.......... Injunctions ........................................................................................ 27

Part 7--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        29

46.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 29

Schedule--Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents 30

Notes                                                                                                                                             37

An Act about certain evidentiary matters involving overseas jurisdictions

  

Notes to the Foreign Evidence Act 1994

Note 1

The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 59, 1994 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.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Foreign Evidence Act 1994	59, 1994	9 Apr 1994	Part 3 (ss. 20-27): 9 Oct 1994 Part 5 (ss. 37-39): 16 Mar 1995 (see Gazette 1995, No. GN8) Remainder: Royal Assent
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (item 491): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (a)	--
Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999	194, 1999	23 Dec 1999	Schedule 14: 23 Dec 1999 (b)	--
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	Ss. 4-14 and Schedule 3 (items 201-205): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (c)	Ss. 4-14 [see Note 1]
Proceeds of Crime (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2002	86, 2002	11 Oct 2002	Ss. 1-3: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 Jan 2003 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 2002, GN44)	--
Crimes Legislation Enhancement Act 2003	41, 2003	3 June 2003	Schedule 2 (item 7): Royal Assent	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Video Link Evidence and Other Measures) Act 2005	136, 2005	15 Nov 2005	16 Nov 2005	--
ASIO Legislation Amendment Act 2006	54, 2006	19 June 2006	Schedule 1 (item 15): 20 June 2006	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Marking of Plastic Explosives) Act 2007	3, 2007	19 Feb 2007	Schedules 1-3: 25 Aug 2007 Remainder: Royal Assent	--

(a)     The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 491) 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.

(b)    The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 14 only of the Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the commencement of the Federal Magistrates Act 1999.

(c)     The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 201-205) 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
Part 1
S. 3......................................	am. No. 55, 2001; No. 86, 2002; No. 136, 2005; No. 54, 2006; No. 3, 2007
Part 2
Division 2
Heading to Div. 2 of Part 2..	rs. No. 194, 1999
S. 9A...................................	ad. No. 194, 1999
Heading to s. 10..................	am. No. 194, 1999
S. 12....................................	am. No. 194, 1999
Division 4
Ss. 15-17............................	am. No. 194, 1999
Part 3
Division 1
S. 20....................................	am. No. 136, 2005
Division 2
S. 22....................................	am. No. 41, 2003
Division 3
Heading to s. 25..................	am. No. 136, 2005
Note to s. 25(1)...................	ad. No. 136, 2005
S. 25A.................................	ad. No. 136, 2005
Division 4
S. 26....................................	am. No. 146, 1999
Part 4
Division 1
S. 28....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
Division 2
S. 29....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
Division 5
S. 35....................................	am. No. 55, 2001
Part 7
S. 46....................................	am. No. 194, 1999