EVIDENCE ACT 1995 - As at 19 October 2022 - Act 25 of 1995 - NOTES
EVIDENCE ACT 1995 - As at 19 October 2022 - Act 25 of 1995 - NOTES
Note to Chapter 1
Outline of this Act This Act sets out the State rules of evidence. Generally speaking, the Act applies to proceedings in State courts and before other persons or bodies required to apply the laws of evidence (see section 4).
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 the Commonwealth. The 2 Acts are drafted in identical terms except so far as differences are identified by appropriate annotations to the texts, and except so far as minor drafting variations are required because one Act is a New South Wales Act and one Act is a Commonwealth 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.
In relation to the taking of evidence outside New South Wales for the purposes of proceedings in the State and in relation to the taking of evidence in the State for the purposes of proceedings outside New South Wales see the Evidence on Commission Act 1995.
Note to Chapter 2
Outline of this Chapter This Chapter is about ways in which evidence is adduced.
Part 2.1 is about adducing evidence from witnesses.
Part 2.2 is about adducing documentary evidence.
Part 2.3 is about adducing other forms of evidence.
Note to Chapter 3
Outline of this Chapter This Chapter is about whether evidence adduced in a proceeding is admissible.
Part 3.1 sets out the general inclusionary rule that relevant evidence is admissible.
Part 3.2 is about the exclusion of hearsay evidence, and exceptions to the hearsay rule.
Part 3.3 is about exclusion of opinion evidence, and exceptions to the opinion rule.
Part 3.4 is about admissions and the extent to which they are admissible as exceptions to the hearsay rule and the opinion rule.
Part 3.5 is about exclusion of certain evidence of judgments and convictions.
Part 3.6 is about exclusion of evidence of tendency or coincidence, and exceptions to the tendency rule and the coincidence rule.
Part 3.7 is about exclusion of evidence relevant only to credibility, and exceptions to the credibility rule.
Part 3.8 is about character evidence and the extent to which it is admissible as exceptions to the hearsay rule, the opinion rule, the tendency rule and the credibility rule.
Part 3.9 is about the requirements that must be satisfied before identification evidence is admissible.
Part 3.10 is about the various categories of privilege that may prevent evidence being adduced.
Part 3.11 provides for the discretionary and mandatory exclusion of evidence even if it would otherwise be admissible.
The following diagram shows how this Chapter applies to particular evidence--
Note to Part 3.4
"Admission" is defined in the Dictionary.
Note to Part 3.9
"Identification evidence" is defined in the Dictionary.
Note to Division 1B
The Commonwealth Act does not include this Division.Note to Chapter 4
Outline of this Chapter This Chapter is about the proof of matters in a proceeding.
Part 4.1 is about the standard of proof in civil proceedings and in criminal proceedings.
Part 4.2 is about matters that do not require proof in a proceeding.
Part 4.3 makes easier the proof of the matters dealt with in that Part.
Part 4.4 is about requirements that evidence be corroborated.
Part 4.5 requires judges to warn juries about the potential unreliability of certain kinds of evidence.
Part 4.6 sets out procedures for proving certain other matters.
Note to Division 1
Section 182 of the Commonwealth Act gives Division 1 of Part 4.6 of the Commonwealth Act a wider application in relation to Commonwealth records and certain Commonwealth documents.Note to Division 2
Section 182 of the Commonwealth Act gives Division 2 of Part 4.6 of the Commonwealth Act a wider application in relation to Commonwealth records and certain Commonwealth documents.See also--
Crimes Amendment (Protection of Criminal Defence Lawyers) Bill 2022
Editorial note
The Parliamentary Counsel's Office is progressively updating certain formatting styles in versions of NSW in force legislation published from 29 July 2019. For example, colons are being replaced by em-rules (em-dashes). Text of the legislation is not affected.
This version has been updated.
Reprint history--
Reprint No 1 1 April 1998
Reprint No 2 7 August 2001
Reprint No 3 26 August 2003
Reprint No 4 13 January 2009
Historical notes
The following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:
Am | amended | LW | legislation website | Sch | Schedule |
Cl | clause | No | number | Schs | Schedules |
Cll | clauses | p | page | Sec | section |
Div | Division | pp | pages | Secs | sections |
Divs | Divisions | Reg | Regulation | Subdiv | Subdivision |
GG | Government Gazette | Regs | Regulations | Subdivs | Subdivisions |
Ins | inserted | Rep | repealed | Subst | substituted |
Table of amending instruments
Evidence Act 1995 No 25. Assented to 19.6.1995. Date of commencement of Part 1.1 and Dictionary, assent, sec 2 (1); date of commencement of the remainder, 1.9.1995, sec 2 (2) and GG No 102 of 25.8.1995, p 4354. This Act has been amended as follows--1995 | No 99 | Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No
2)
1995. Assented to 21.12.1995. Date of commencement of Sch 2.6, assent, sec 2 (2). |
1997 | No 55 | Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
1997. Assented to 2.7.1997. Date of commencement of Sch 1.7, 1.8.1997, Sch 1.7 and GG No 86 of 1.8.1997, p 5834. |
No 122 | Evidence Amendment (Confidential Communications)
Act
1997. Assented to 10.12.1997. Date of commencement, 1.1.1998, sec 2 and GG No 149 of 19.12.1997, p 10091. | |
No 147 | Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No
2)
1997. Assented to 17.12.1997. Sch 1.7 was not commenced and was repealed by Sch 3.23 to the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2000 No 53 with effect from 29.6.2000. | |
1998 | No 54 | Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
1998. Assented to 30.6.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 2.15, assent, sec 2 (2). |
No 107 | Criminal Procedure
Legislation
Amendment (Bail Agreements) Act 1998. Assented to 9.11.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 3.4, 1.10.2000, sec 2 and GG No 127 of 29.9.2000, p 10810. | |
No 158 | Children and Young
Persons
Legislation (Repeal and Amendment) Act 1998. Assented to 14.12.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 2.14, 9.12.2011, sec 2 and 2011 (625) LW 9.12.2011. | |
1999 | No 48 | Criminal Procedure Amendment
(Sexual
Assault Communications Privilege) Act 1999. Assented to 1.11.1999. Date of commencement, 5.11.1999, sec 2 and GG No 126 of 5.11.1999, p 10403. |
No 94 | Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sentencing)
Act
1999. Assented to 8.12.1999. Date of commencement of Sch 4.21 [1[#93], 25.2.2000, sec 2 (1) and GG No 29 of 25.2.2000, p 1321; Sch 4.21 [2[#93] and [3[#93] were without effect as the sections being amended were substituted or repealed by the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Sexual Assault Communications Privilege) Act 1999 No 48 with effect from 5.11.1999; date of commencement of Sch 4.70, 1.1.2000, sec 2 (1) and GG No 144 of 24.12.1999, p 12184. | |
2000 | No 53 | Statute Law (Miscellaneous
Provisions)
Act 2000. Assented to 29.6.2000. Date of commencement of Sch 1.5, assent, sec 2 (2). |
2001 | No 34 | Corporations
(Consequential
Amendments) Act 2001. Assented to 28.6.2001. Date of commencement of Sch 4.17, 15.7.2001, sec 2 (1) and Commonwealth Gazette No S 285 of 13.7.2001. |
No 109 | Evidence Legislation Amendment
Act
2001. Assented to 14.12.2001. Date of commencement, 26.7.2002, sec 2 and GG No 122 of 26.7.2002, p 5541. | |
No 121 | Justices Legislation Repeal
and
Amendment Act 2001. Assented to 19.12.2001. Date of commencement of Sch 2, 7.7.2003, sec 2 and GG No 104 of 27.6.2003, p 5978. | |
2002 | No 73 | Miscellaneous Acts
Amendment
(Relationships) Act 2002. Assented to 1.10.2002. Date of commencement, 1.11.2002, sec 2 and GG No 201 of 1.11.2002, p 9302. |
2005 | No 25 | Criminal Procedure Further
Amendment
(Evidence) Act 2005. Assented to 31.5.2005. Date of commencement of Sch 2.3, 12.8.2005, sec 2 and GG No 102 of 12.8.2005, p 4309. |
2007 | No 46 | Evidence Amendment
Act
2007. Assented to 1.11.2007. Date of commencement, 1.1.2009, sec 2 and GG No 158 of 19.12.2008, p 12305. Amended by Courts and Crimes Legislation Further Amendment Act 2008 No 107. Assented to 8.12.2008. Date of commencement of Sch 12, assent, sec 2 (1). |
No 94 | Miscellaneous Acts (Local
Court)
Amendment Act 2007. Assented to 13.12.2007. Date of commencement of Sch 2, 6.7.2009, sec 2 and 2009 (314) LW 3.7.2009. | |
2008 | No 107 | Courts and Crimes Legislation
Further
Amendment Act 2008. Assented to 8.12.2008. The amendment made by Sch 11 was without effect as the provision being amended was amended by the Evidence Amendment Act 2007 No 46. |
2010 | No 69 | Evidence Amendment
Act
2010. Assented to 28.9.2010. Date of commencement, 14.1.2011, sec 2 and 2011 (2) LW 14.1.2011. |
2011 | No 18 | Evidence Amendment
(Journalist
Privilege) Act 2011. Assented to 21.6.2011. Date of commencement, assent, sec 2. |
2013 | No 9 | Evidence Amendment (Evidence
of
Silence) Act 2013. Assented to 25.3.2013. Date of commencement, 1.9.2013, sec 2 and 2013 (446) LW 23.8.2013. |
No 80 | Crimes and Courts
Legislation
Amendment Act 2013. Assented to 29.10.2013. Date of commencement, assent, sec 2. | |
2014 | No 5 | Bail (Consequential Amendments)
Act
2014. Assented to 12.3.2014. Date of commencement, 20.5.2014, sec 2 and 2014 (235) LW 24.4.2014. |
2015 | No 7 | Legal Profession Uniform
Law
Application Legislation Amendment Act 2015. Assented to 9.6.2015. Date of commencement of Sch 2, 1.7.2015, sec 2 (2) and 2015 (299) LW 19.6.2015. |
2018 | No 4 | Justice Legislation Amendment
Act
2018. Assented to 21.3.2018. Date of commencement of Sch 1.8, 2.7.2018, sec 2 (2) and 2018 (133) LW 13.4.2018. |
No 28 | Miscellaneous Acts
Amendment
(Marriages) Act 2018. Assented to 15.6.2018. Date of commencement, assent, sec 2. | |
No 29 | Justice Legislation Amendment
Act (No
2) 2018. Assented to 21.6.2018. Date of commencement of Sch 2, assent, sec 2 (1). | |
2019 | No 25 | Children's Guardian
Act
2019. Assented to 4.12.2019. Date of commencement of Sch 5.19, 1.3.2020, sec 2(1). |
2020 | No 8 | Evidence Amendment (Tendency
and
Coincidence) Act 2020. Assented to 10.6.2020. Date of commencement, 1.7.2020, sec 2. |
Table of amendments
Sec 4 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [1[#93] [2[#93]; 2014 No 5, Sch 2.18 [1[#93]. |
Sec 8 | Am 2001 No 34, Sch 4.17 [1[#93]. |
Sec 13 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [3[#93]. |
Sec 14 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [4[#93]. |
Sec 18 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [5[#93]. |
Sec 19 | Am 1998 No 158, Sch 2.14; 1999 No 94, Sch 4.21 [1[#93]; 2001 No 121, Sch 2.103 [1[#93]. Subst 2013 No 80, Sch 8. Am 2018 No 29, Sch 2.8; 2019 No 25, Sch 5.19[1[#93] [2[#93]. |
Sec 20 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [6[#93] [7[#93]. |
Sec 21 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [8[#93]. |
Sec 22 | Am 2001 No 109, Sch 1 [1[#93] [2[#93]. |
Sec 23 | Am 2001 No 109, Sch 1 [3[#93] [4[#93]. |
Sec 24A | Ins 2001 No 109, Sch 1 [5[#93]. |
Sec 29 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [9[#93]. |
Sec 33 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [10[#93]. |
Sec 37 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [11[#93]. |
Sec 41 | Am 2005 No 25, Sch 2.3. Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [12[#93]. |
Sec 48 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [1[#93] [2[#93]. |
Sec 49 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [3[#93]. |
Sec 50 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [4[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [13[#93]. |
Sec 51 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [5[#93]. |
Chapter 3, introductory note | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [14[#93]. |
Chapter 3, introductory note, diagram | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [15[#93]. |
Sec 59 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [6[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [16[#93]-[18[#93]. |
Sec 60 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [19[#93] [20[#93]. |
Sec 61 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [21[#93] [22[#93]. |
Sec 62 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [23[#93]. |
Sec 63 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [7[#93]. |
Sec 64 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [8[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [24[#93]. |
Sec 65 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [9[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [25[#93]-[27[#93]. |
Sec 66 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [28[#93]. |
Sec 66A | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [29[#93]. |
Sec 71 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [30[#93]. |
Sec 72 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [31[#93]. |
Sec 73 | Am 2018 No 28, Sch 4 [1[#93]. |
Sec 76 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [10[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [32[#93]. |
Sec 78A | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [33[#93]. |
Sec 79 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [34[#93]. |
Sec 82 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [11[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [35[#93]. |
Sec 85 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [36[#93]. |
Sec 89 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [37[#93]; 2013 No 9, Sch 1 [1[#93]. |
Sec 89A | Ins 2013 No 9, Sch 1 [2[#93]. |
Sec 94 | Am 2020 No 8, Sch 1[1[#93]. |
Sec 97 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [38[#93]. |
Sec 97A | Ins 2020 No 8, Sch 1[2[#93]. |
Sec 98 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [39[#93]. Am 2020 No 8, Sch 1[3[#93]. |
Sec 101 | Am 2020 No 8, Sch 1[4[#93]. |
Part 3.7, Div 1 (sec 101A) | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [40[#93]. |
Part 3.7, Div 2, heading | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [40[#93]. |
Sec 102 | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [1[#93]-[3[#93]. Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [40[#93]. |
Sec 103 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [41[#93] [42[#93]. |
Sec 104 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [43[#93]-[46[#93]. |
Sec 106 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [47[#93]. |
Sec 107 | Rep 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [4[#93]. |
Sec 108 | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [5[#93] [6[#93]. |
Part 3.7, Div 3, heading | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [48[#93]. |
Sec 108A | Ins 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [7[#93]. Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [49[#93] [50[#93]. |
Sec 108B | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [51[#93]. |
Part 3.7, Div 4 (sec 108C) | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [51[#93]. |
Sec 112 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [52[#93]. |
Sec 114 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [53[#93]. |
Sec 117 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [54[#93] [55[#93]; 2015 No 7, Sch 2.17 [1[#93]. |
Sec 118 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [56[#93]. |
Sec 120 | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [8[#93]. |
Sec 122 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [57[#93]. |
Part 3.10, Div 1A | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. |
Part 3.10, Div 1A, note | Ins 1998 No 54, Sch 2.15 [1[#93]. Rep 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [58[#93]. |
Sec 126A | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [59[#93]; 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [1[#93]. |
Sec 126B | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Am 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [2[#93]. |
Secs 126C-126E | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. |
Sec 126F | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Am 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [1[#93]; 2001 No 121, Sch 2.103 [2[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [60[#93]. |
Part 3.10, Div 1B | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Subst 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. |
Part 3.10, Div 1B, note | Ins 1998 No 54, Sch 2.15 [1[#93]. Subst 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. |
Sec 126G | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Subst 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. Am 1999 No 94, Sch 4.70 [1[#93]; 2001 No 121, Sch 2.103 [3[#93]. |
Sec 126H | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Subst 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. Am 1999 No 94, Sch 4.70 [2[#93]; 2001 No 121, Sch 2.103 [4[#93]. |
Sec 126I | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Subst 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. |
Part 3.10, Div 1C | Ins 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [3[#93]. |
Sec 126J | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Rep 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. Ins 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [3[#93]. |
Sec 126K | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Am 1998 No 54, Sch 2.15 [2[#93]. Rep 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. Ins 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [3[#93]. |
Sec 126L | Ins 1997 No 122, Sch 1. Rep 1999 No 48, Sch 2.1 [2[#93]. Ins 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [3[#93]. |
Sec 128 | Am 1995 No 99, Sch 2.6; 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [9[#93] [10[#93]. Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [61[#93] (am 2008 No 107, Sch 12 [1[#93]). Am 2010 No 69, Sch 1 [1[#93]-[4[#93]. |
Sec 128A | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [62[#93] (am 2008 No 107, Sch 12 [2[#93]). Am 2010 No 69, Sch 1 [5[#93]. |
Sec 131A | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [63[#93]. Am 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [4[#93]. |
Part 3.11, heading | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [64[#93]. |
Sec 138, heading | Am 1998 No 54, Sch 2.15 [3[#93]. |
Sec 139 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [65[#93]. |
Sec 147 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [12[#93]. |
Sec 148 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [66[#93] [67[#93]. |
Sec 149 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [13[#93]. |
Sec 152 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [14[#93]. |
Sec 154 | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [11[#93]. |
Sec 155 | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [12[#93]. |
Sec 155A | Ins 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [15[#93]. |
Sec 158 | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [13[#93]. |
Sec 160 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [16[#93]; 2018 No 4, Sch 1.8. |
Sec 161 | Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [68[#93]. |
Part 4.5, heading | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [69[#93]. |
Sec 165 | Am 2001 No 109, Sch 1 [6[#93] [7[#93]; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [70[#93] [71[#93]. |
Secs 165A, 165B | Ins 2001 No 109, Sch 1 [8[#93]. Subst 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [72[#93]. |
Part 4.6, Div 1, note | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [17[#93]. |
Part 4.6, Div 2, note | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [18[#93]. |
Sec 183 | Am 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [19[#93]. |
Sec 184 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [73[#93] [74[#93]. |
Sec 189 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [75[#93]. |
Sec 190 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [10[#93]. |
Sec 191 | Am 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [76[#93]. |
Sec 192A | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [77[#93]. |
Sec 194 | Am 1998 No 107, Sch 3.4; 2014 No 5, Sch 2.18 [2[#93]. |
Sec 196 | Am 2001 No 121, Sch 2.103 [5[#93]; 2007 No 94, Sch 2. |
Sec 198 | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [78[#93]. |
Sch 2 | Ins 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [79[#93]. Am 2007 No 46, Schs 1 [80[#93], Sch 2.4 (cll 2-15 of Part 2 transferred from the Evidence (Consequential and Other Provisions) Act 1995 No 27); 2010 No 69, Sch 1 [6[#93]; 2011 No 18, Sch 1 [5[#93]; 2013 No 9, Sch 1 [3[#93] [4[#93]; 2018 No 28, Sch 4 [2[#93]; 2020 No 8, Sch 1[5[#93]. |
Dictionary | Am 1997 No 55, Sch 1.7 [14[#93]-[16[#93]; 2000 No 53, Sch 1.5 [20[#93] [21[#93]; 2001 No 34, Sch 4.17 [2[#93]; 2002 No 73, Sch 1.10; 2007 No 46, Sch 1 [81[#93]-[90[#93]; 2010 No 69, Sch 1 [7[#93]; 2015 No 7, Sch 2.17 [2[#93]-[4[#93]. |