OATHS ACT 1867 - As at 1 February 2024 - Act 12 of 1867
OATHS ACT 1867
- As at 1 February 2024
- Act 12 of 1867
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Long Title
PART 1 - PRELIMINARY
1A. Short title
1B. Definitions
PART 2 - OATHS OF OFFICE AND ALLEGIANCE
1. Oath substituted for the oaths and declaration now prescribed by law
2. Before whom the oath may be taken
3. Oaths for justices of the peace and others
4. Name of the Sovereign
5. Affirmation in lieu of oath
5A. Form of oath of allegiance
PART 3 - DECLARATIONS SUBSTITUTED FOR CERTAIN OFFICIAL OATHS
6. Declarations substituted for oaths and affirmations
7. Act not to extend to oath of allegiance
8. Nor to oaths in judicial proceeding
9. Such substitution to be notified in gazette
10. Oaths or affirmations not to be made or taken thereafter
PART 4 - AFFIDAVITS AND STATUTORY DECLARATIONS
Division 1 - Preliminary
11. Definitions for part
12. Special witnesses
13. References to witnesses, signatories and substitute signatories
Division 2 - General requirements for affidavits and declarations
13AA. Application of division
13AB. Execution requirements
13A. Accepted method for electronically signing affidavit or declaration
13B. Jurat of affidavit
13C. Statement in declaration
13D. General requirements for witnessing affidavit or declaration
13E. Information to be included about witness
13F. Minor non-compliance does not affect validity of affidavit or declaration
13G. Substitute signatories
13H. Witnessing signature of substitute signatory
14. Form of declaration
15. Fees payable
Division 3 - Signing in physical presence of witness
16. Application of division
16A. Who may witness affidavits
16B. Who may witness declarations
16C. Affidavit or declaration electronically signed in physical presence of witness
16D. Effect of affidavit or declaration electronically signed in physical presence of witness
PART 5 - SOLEMN AFFIRMATIONS AND DECLARATIONS
17. Affirmation instead of oath in certain cases
18. Quakers and Moravians permitted to make a solemn affirmation or declaration instead of oath
19. Separatists instead of an oath may make the following affirmation
20. (Repealed)
PART 6 - OTHER OATHS
21. Swearing of jurors in civil trials
22. Swearing of jurors in criminal trials
23. Witnesses’ oath in civil causes
23A. Witnesses’ oath in proceedings not otherwise specified
24. Voire dire
25. Witnesses’ oath on criminal trials
26. Interpreters’ oath in civil causes
27. Interpreters’ oath in civil causes on the voire dire
28. Interpreters’ oath for the arraignment—to interpret between prisoner and others
29. Interpreter’s oath to interpret between a prisoner, defendant or witness and others
30. Where witness and prisoner are of different languages—first interpreter’s oaths
30A. Intermediaries’ oath
31. Oath of bailiff in charge of jury
31A. Oath of police officer assisting bailiff in charge of jury
PART 6A - AUDIO VISUAL LINKS
Division 1 - Preliminary
31B. Definitions for part
31C. References to witnesses, signatories and substitute signatories
31CA. Part does not limit other laws
Division 2 - Affidavits
31D. Application of division
31E. Presence by audio visual link
31F. Affidavit may be in form of electronic document and electronically signed
31G. Admission of affidavit not complying with requirements
31H. Disapplication of s 33
Division 3 - Declarations
31I. Application of division
31J. Presence by audio visual link
31K. Declaration may be in form of electronic document and electronically signed
31L. Disapplication of s 33
Division 4 - Oaths and affirmations
31M. Application of division
31N. Presence by audio visual link
31O. Disapplication of s 33
Division 5 - Signing or witnessing documents by audio visual link
Subdivision 1A - Preliminary
31OA. Application of division
Subdivision 1 - Requirements about signing documents by audio visual link
31P. Who may be a substitute signatory
31Q. Substitute signatory signing in physical presence of witness requires special witness or another prescribed person
31R. (Repealed)
Subdivision 2 - Requirements about witnessing documents by audio visual link
31S. Witness must be special witness or another prescribed person
31T. General requirements for witnessing documents
31U. Confirmation of signed document by witness
31V. Action after witness confirms document
Subdivision 3 - Other provisions
31W. When document starts to be effective
31X. Presumptions
31Y. Documents made using official and original physical versions
31Z. Documents made using counterparts
31ZA. Lodgement or deposit of document in land registry or water allocations register
31ZB. Audio visual recording of signing or witnessing of document
PART 7 - MISCELLANEOUS
32. General provision
33. Special provision as to oaths
34. (Repealed)
35. Mode of binding interpreters to interpreting certain cases
36. Interruption of trial by reason of failure of interpreters not to entitle to acquittal
37. Mode of taking evidence of persons objecting or incompetent to take an oath
38. Interpreters
39. Mode of taking evidence of witness who can not be sworn in manner required by witness’s religion—schedule
40. Interpreter
42. Mode of pleading affirmation instead of oath
43. References to Oaths Act Amendment Acts
43A. Regulation made by Police Legislation (Efficiencies and Effectiveness) Amendment Act 2022
44. Regulation-making power
PART 8 - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Division 1 - Transitional provisions for Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021
45. Definitions for division
46. Repealed regulation continues to apply to affidavit or declaration in particular circumstances
47. Repealed regulation continues to apply to particular documents
Division 2 - Transitional provision for Domestic and Family Violence Protection (Combating Coercive Control) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023
48. Retrospective application of s 13F
SCHEDULE - Form of solemn affirmation