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EVIDENCE ACT 2001

EVIDENCE ACT 2001

- Act 76 of 2001
- Royal Assent 17 December 2001

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

           Chapter 1 - Preliminary PART 1 - Formal matters

   1.      Short title
   2.      Commencement
   2A.     Numbering of Act
   3.      Interpretation
   3A.     References to business
   3B.     Unavailability of persons
   3C.     Unavailability of documents and things
   3D.     Representations in documents

   PART 2 - Application of Act

   4.      Courts and proceedings to which Act applies
   5.      Extended application of certain provisions
   6.      Territories
   7.      Act binds Crown
   8.      Operation of other Acts
   9.      Application of common law and equity
   10.     Parliamentary privilege preserved
   11.     General powers of court

           Chapter 2 - Adducing evidence PART 1 - Witnesses Division 1 -
           Competence and compellability of witnesses

   12.     Competence and compellability
   13.     Competence: lack of capacity
   14.     Compellability: reduced capacity
   15.     Compellability: Sovereign and others
   16.     Competence and compellability: judges and jurors
   17.     Competence and compellability: defendants in criminal proceedings
   18.     Compellability of spouses and others in criminal proceedings generally
   19.     Compellability of spouses and others in certain proceedings
   20.     Comment on failure to give evidence

           Division 2 - Oaths and affirmations

   21.     Sworn evidence by oath or affirmation
   22.     Interpreters to act on oath or affirmation
   23.     Choice of oath or affirmation
   24.     Requirements for oaths
   25.     Rights to make unsworn statements unaffected

           Division 3 - General rules about giving evidence

   26.     Court's control over questioning of witness
   27.     Parties may question witnesses
   28.     Order of examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination
   29.     Manner and form of questioning and responses of witness
   30.     Interpreters
   30A.    Unsworn statements
   31.     Deaf and mute witnesses
   32.     Attempts to revive memory in court
   33.     Evidence by police officers
   34.     Attempts to revive memory out of court
   35.     Effect of calling for production of documents
   36.     Examination without subpoena or other process

           Division 4 - Examination in chief and re-examination

   37.     Leading questions
   38.     Unfavourable witness
   39.     Limits on re-examination

           Division 5 - Cross-examination

   40.     Witness called in error
   41.     Improper questions
   42.     Leading questions
   43.     Prior inconsistent statement of witness
   44.     Previous representation of other person
   45.     Production of document
   46.     Leave to recall witnesses

   PART 2 - Documents

   47.     Interpretation of Part
   48.     Proof of contents of document
   49.     Documents in foreign countries
   50.     Proof of voluminous or complex documents
   51.     Original document rule abolished

   PART 3 - Other evidence

   52.     Adducing of other evidence not affected
   53.     Views
   54.     Views to be evidence

           Chapter 3 - Admissibility of evidence PART 1 - Relevance

   55.     Relevant evidence
   56.     Relevant evidence admissible
   57.     Provisional relevance
   58.     Inference as to relevance

   PART 2 - Hearsay Division 1 - Hearsay rule

   59.     Hearsay rule – exclusion of hearsay evidence
   60.     Exception: evidence relevant for non-hearsay purpose
   61.     Exception to hearsay rule dependent on competency

           Division 2 - First-hand hearsay

   62.     Restriction to first-hand hearsay
   63.     Exception: civil proceedings if maker not available
   64.     Exception: civil proceedings if maker available
   65.     Exception: criminal proceedings if maker not available
   66.     Exception: criminal proceedings if maker available
   66A.    Exception: contemporaneous statements about a person's health, &c.
   67.     Notices to be given
   68.     Objection to tender of hearsay evidence in civil proceedings if
           maker available

           Division 3 - Other exceptions to hearsay rule

   69.     Exception: business records
   70.     Exception: contents of tags, labels and writing
   71.     Exception: electronic communications
   72.     Exception: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional laws and
           customs
   73.     Exception: reputation as to relationships and age
   74.     Exception: reputation of public or general rights
   75.     Exception: interlocutory proceedings

   PART 3 - Opinion

   76.     Opinion rule
   77.     Exception: evidence relevant otherwise than as opinion evidence
   78.     Exception: lay opinion
   78A.    Exception: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional laws and
           customs
   79.     Exception: opinion based on specialised knowledge
   79A.    Section 79A
   80.     Ultimate issue and common knowledge rules abolished

   PART 4 - Admissions

   81.     Hearsay and opinion rules: exception for admissions and related
           representations
   82.     Exclusion of evidence of admissions that is not first-hand
   83.     Exclusion of evidence of admissions as against third parties
   84.     Exclusion of admission influenced by violence and certain other
           conduct
   85.     Criminal proceedings: reliability of admissions by defendants
   85A.    Admission in serious offence
   86.     Exclusion of records of oral questioning
   87.     Admission made with authority
   88.     Proof of admission
   89.     Evidence of silence
   90.     Discretion to exclude admission

   PART 5 - Evidence of judgments and convictions

   91.     Exclusion of evidence of judgments and convictions
   92.     Exceptions
   93.     Savings

   PART 6 - Tendency and coincidence

   94.     Application of Part
   95.     Use of evidence for other purposes
   96.     Failure to act
   97.     Tendency rule
   97A.    Admissibility of tendency evidence in proceedings involving child
           sexual offences
   98.     Coincidence rule
   99.     Requirements for notices
   100.    Court may dispense with notice requirements
   101.    Further restrictions on tendency evidence and coincidence evidence
           adduced by the prosecution

   PART 7 - Credibility Division 1 - Credibility evidence

   101A.   Credibility evidence

           Division 2 - Credibility of witnesses

   102.    Credibility rule
   103.    Exception: cross-examination as to credibility
   104.    Further protection: cross-examination of defendant
   105.    Section 105
   106.    Exception: rebutting denials by other evidence
   107.    (Repealed)
   108.    Exception: re-establishing credibility

           Division 3 - Credibility of persons who are not witnesses

   108A.   Admissibility of evidence of credibility of person who has made a
           previous representation
   108B.   Further protections: previous representations of an accused who is
           not a witness

           Division 4 - Persons with specialised knowledge

   108C.   Exception: evidence of persons with specialised knowledge

   PART 8 - Character

   109.    Application
   110.    Evidence about character of accused
   111.    Evidence about character of co-accused
   112.    Leave required for cross-examination on character of accused or
           co-accused

   PART 9 - Identification evidence

   113.    Application of Part
   114.    Exclusion of visual identification evidence
   115.    Exclusion of evidence of identification by pictures
   116.    Directions to jury

   PART 10 - Privileges Division 1 - Client legal privilege

   117.    Interpretation of Division
   118.    Legal advice
   119.    Litigation
   120.    Unrepresented parties
   121.    Loss of client legal privilege: generally
   122.    Loss of client legal privilege: consent and related matters
   123.    Loss of client legal privilege: defendants
   124.    Loss of client legal privilege: joint clients
   125.    Loss of client legal privilege: misconduct
   126.    Loss of client legal privilege: related communications and documents

           Division 1A - Professional confidential relationship privilege

   126A.   Definitions
   126B.   Exclusion of evidence of protected confidence
   126C.   Loss of professional confidential relationship privilege: consent
   126D.   Loss of professional confidential relationship privilege: misconduct
   126E.   Ancillary orders
   126F.   Application of Division

           Division 2 - Other privileges

   127.    Religious confession
   127A.   Medical communications
   127B.   Communication to counsellor
   128.    Privilege in respect of self-incrimination in other proceedings
   128A.   Privilege in respect of self-incrimination – exception for
           certain orders, &c.

           Division 3 - Evidence excluded in the public interest

   129.    Exclusion of evidence of reasons for judicial decisions
   130.    Exclusion of evidence of matters of state
   131.    Exclusion of evidence of settlement negotiations

           Division 4 - General

   131A.   Application of Division to preliminary proceedings of courts
   132.    Court to inform of rights to make applications and objections
   133.    Court may inspect, &c., documents
   134.    Inadmissibility of evidence that must not be adduced or given

   PART 11 - Discretionary and mandatory exclusions

   135.    General discretion to exclude evidence
   136.    General discretion to limit use of evidence
   137.    Exclusion of prejudicial evidence in criminal proceedings
   138.    Discretion to exclude evidence improperly or illegally obtained
   139.    Cautioning person

           Chapter 4 - Proof PART 1 - Standard of proof

   140.    Civil proceedings: standard of proof
   141.    Criminal proceedings: standard of proof
   142.    Admissibility of evidence: standard of proof
   142A.   Proof of exemption

   PART 2 - Judicial notice

   143.    Matters of law
   144.    Matters of common knowledge
   145.    Certain Crown certificates

   PART 3 - Facilitation of proof Division 1 - General

   146.    Evidence produced by processes, machines and other devices
   147.    Documents produced by processes, machines and other devices in the
           course of business
   148.    Evidence of certain acts of justices, lawyers and notaries public
   149.    Attestation of documents
   150.    Seals and signatures
   151.    Seals of bodies established under State law
   152.    Documents produced from proper custody

           Division 2 - Matters of official record

   153.    Gazettes and other official documents
   154.    Documents published by authority of Parliaments
   155.    Evidence of official records
   156.    Public documents
   157.    Public documents relating to court processes
   158.    Evidence of certain public documents
   159.    Official statistics

           Division 3 - Matters relating to post and communications

   160.    Postal articles
   161.    Electronic communications
   162.    Lettergrams and telegrams
   163.    Proof of letters having been sent by Commonwealth agencies

   PART 4 - Corroboration

   164.    Corroboration requirements abolished

   PART 5 - Warnings and Information

   165.    Unreliable evidence
   165A.   Warnings in relation to children's evidence
   165B.   Delay in prosecution

   PART 6 - Ancillary provisions Division 1 - Request to produce
   documents or call witnesses

   166.    Definition of request
   167.    Requests may be made about certain matters
   168.    Time limits for making certain requests
   169.    Failure or refusal to comply with request

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

   170.    Evidence relating to certain matters
   171.    Persons who may give such evidence
   172.    Evidence based on knowledge, belief or information
   173.    Notification of other parties

           Division 3 - Foreign law

   174.    Evidence of foreign law
   175.    Evidence of law reports of foreign countries
   176.    Questions of foreign law decided by judge

           Division 4 - Procedures for proving other matters

   177.    Certificates of expert evidence
   177A.   Certificate of analyst
   177B.   Proof of proceedings of councils and committees
   177C.   Probate and letters of administration
   177D.   Certificate of Surveyor-General
   177E.   Certificate of Chief Parliamentary Counsel
   178.    Convictions, acquittals and other judicial proceedings
   179.    Proof of identity of convicted persons by affidavits by members of
           State or Territory police forces
   180.    Proof of identity of convicted persons by affidavits by members of
           the Australian Federal Police
   181.    Proof of service of statutory notifications, notices, orders and
           directions
   181A.   Depositions on one charge admissible on trial of another

           Chapter 5 - Miscellaneous PART 1 - Miscellaneous provisions

   182.    Application of certain sections in relation to Commonwealth records
   183.    Inferences
   184.    Accused may admit matters and give consent
   185.    Full faith and credit to be given to documents properly
           authenticated
   186.    Swearing of affidavits before justices of the peace, notaries public
           and lawyers
   187.    No privilege against self-incrimination for bodies corporate
   188.    Impounding documents
   189.    The voir dire
   190.    Waiver of rules of evidence
   191.    Agreements as to facts
   192.    Leave, permission or direction may be given on terms
   192A.   Advance rulings and findings
   193.    Additional powers
   194.    Witnesses failing to attend proceedings
   194A.   Depositions under Justices Act 1959
   194B.   Depositions of persons dangerously ill
   194C.   Power of court or judge to order examination of witnesses on
           interrogatories or otherwise
   194D.   Parties
   194E.   Compelling attendance of witnesses or production of documents
   194F.   Examinations of witnesses to be taken on oath
   194G.   Persons appointed for taking examinations to report on conduct or
           absence of witnesses if necessary
   194H.   Costs of examination may be made costs in the cause
   194I.   Provisions relating to reading of examinations
   194J.   Printing and publication of certain evidence prohibited
   194K.   Publication of certain identifying particulars prohibited
   194L.   Publication of evidence in certain civil cases prohibited
   194M.   Evidence relating to sexual experience
   195.    Prohibited question not to be published
   196.    Proceedings for offences
   196A.   Medical examination of injured person
   196B.   Certain errors not avoid conviction
   196C.   Inspection of realty or personalty

   PART 2 - Administrative provisions

   197.    Regulations
   198.    Administration of Act
   199.    Repeals
   200.    Savings, transitional and other provisions
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2

[ Note: This table has been automatically generated and may be incomplete. ]