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EVIDENCE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1958

Table of Provisions

  • 1 Short title and commencement  
  • 3 Definitions  

PART I--THE MEANS OF OBTAINING EVIDENCE

Division 1--Orders and commissions to examine witnesses

  • 4 Order to examine witnesses  
  • 6 Operation of other laws  

Division 1A--Examination of witnesses abroad

  • 9A Definitions  
  • 9B Proceedings in superior courts  
  • 9C Proceedings in inferior courts  
  • 9D Exclusion of evidence in criminal proceeding  
  • 9E Operation of other laws  

Division 1B--Examination of witnesses outside the State but within Australia

  • 9F Application of Division  
  • 9G Definitions  
  • 9H Proceedings in superior courts  
  • 9I Proceedings in inferior courts  
  • 9J Exclusion of evidence in criminal proceedings  
  • 9K Operation of other laws  

Division 1C--Taking of evidence for foreign and Australian courts[1]

  • 9L Definitions  
  • 9M Application to the Supreme Court for assistance in obtaining evidence for proceedings in other court  
  • 9N Power of the Supreme Court to give effect to application for assistance  
  • 9O Privilege of witnesses  
  • 9P Offence  
  • 9Q Operation of other laws  

Division 3--Prisoners

  • 12 Prisoner may be brought before court to give evidence without writ of habeas corpus  

Division 6--Disclosure of information relating to applications for legal aid

  • 21D Definitions  
  • 21E Disclosure of information etc. relating to proposed applications  
  • 21F Disclosure of information etc. relating to applications  
  • 21G Disclosure of information etc. where applicant has died  
  • 21H Application of this Division  

Division 7--Family mediations

  • 21I Definitions  
  • 21J Admissions etc. made at mediation conferences  

Division 8--Dispute settlement centres[3]

  • 21K Definitions  
  • 21L Admissions etc. at mediation conferences  
  • 21M Confidentiality  
  • 21N Exoneration from liability  

PART II--WITNESSES

Division 2--Privileges disabilities and obligations of witnesses

  • 28 Confessions to doctors  

Division 2A--Confidential communications and protected health information

  • 32AB Guiding principles  
  • 32B Definitions  
  • 32BA Meaning of protected health information  
  • 32C Exclusion of evidence of confidential communications and protected health information  
  • 32CA Applicant for leave must give notice—civil proceedings  
  • 32CB Persons other than parties appearing and making submissions as to leave—civil proceedings  
  • 32CC Applicant for leave must give notice—criminal proceedings  
  • 32CD Prosecuting party to ensure notice is given to protected person—criminal proceedings  
  • 32CE Persons other than parties appearing and making submissions as to leave—criminal proceedings  
  • 32CF Production of document for purposes of determining application for leave  
  • 32D Restriction on granting leave  
  • 32E Limitations on privilege  
  • 32F Ancillary orders available on a granting of leave  
  • 32G Operation of Division  

PART IIAA--WITNESS IDENTITY PROTECTION

Division 1--Introductory

  • 42BA Definitions  

Division 2--Witness identity protection certificates for local operatives

  • 42BB Giving witness identity protection certificate  
  • 42BC Statutory declaration by local operative  
  • 42BD Form of witness identity protection certificate  
  • 42BE Protection of decision to give certificate  
  • 42BF Cancellation of witness identity protection certificate  
  • 42BG Permission to give information disclosing operative's identity etc.  
  • 42BH Disclosure offences  
  • 42BI Reports about witness identity protection certificates  
  • 42BJ Delegation  

Division 3--Interstate witness identity protection certificates

  • 42BK Application of Division  
  • 42BL Filing and notification  
  • 42BM Effect of interstate witness identity protection certificate  
  • 42BN Orders to protect interstate operative's identity etc.  
  • 42BO Disclosure of interstate operative's identity to presiding officer  
  • 42BP Application for disclosure of interstate operative's identity etc.  
  • 42BQ Suppression and protection orders  
  • 42BR Directions to jury  
  • 42BS Disclosure offences  

PART IIA--USE OF AUDIO VISUAL AND AUDIO LINKS[5]

Division 1--Definitions

  • 42C Definitions  

Division 2--Persons other than accused

  • 42D Application of Division  
  • 42E Appearance, etc. by audio visual link or audio link  
  • 42F Special provisions applicable to certain proceedings involving children  
  • 42G Technical requirements for audio visual links and audio links  
  • 42H Costs  
  • 42I Certain other laws not affected  

Division 3--Appearance by the accused

  • 42J Application of Division  
  • 42JA Appearance of adult accused before Magistrates' Court  
  • 42K Appearance of adult accused before court other than Magistrates' Court  
  • 42L Making of direction for physical appearance in section 42JA or 42K(1) proceedings  
  • 42M Making of direction for audio visual appearance in section 42JA or 42K(2) proceedings  
  • 42MAA Making of direction for audio visual appearance in section 42JA(3) proceedings  
  • 42MA Appearance of adult accused in proceedings other than section 42JA or 42K proceedings  
  • 42N Application for making of direction under section 42MA  
  • 42O Appearance before court of accused who is a child  
  • 42P Making of direction for audio visual appearance by child  
  • 42R Technical requirements for audio visual appearance by accused  
  • 42RA Audio link appearance by accused in certain circumstances  
  • 42RB Technical requirements for audio link appearance by accused  
  • 42S Protection of communication between accused and legal representative  
  • 42T Application of Surveillance Devices Act 1999  

Division 4--General

  • 42U Putting documents to a remote person  
  • 42UA Practice directions  
  • 42W Application of laws about witnesses, etc.  
  • 42X Arraignment  
  • 42Y Hearing not invalid because of failure to comply with technical requirements  
  • 42YA Repeal of temporary COVID-19 measures  

PART III--PROOF OF DOCUMENTS, PROOF OF FACTS BY DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENT UNAVAILABILITY

Division 2A--Reproductions of documents

  • 53Q Micro-film etc. may be preserved in lieu of document  

Division 4--Further provisions relating to Australasian documents

  • 59 Definitions  

Division 5--Further provisions relating to Victorian documents

  • 70 Mode of proving proclamations, orders and regulations of Board of Land and Works  
  • 71 Government Gazette to be evidence of act of Board of Land and Works  
  • 74 Evidence of contents of will  

Division 6--Judicial notice

  • 80 Judicial notice of certain seals etc  
  • 81 Effect of judicial or official notice  

Division 9--Document unavailability

PART IV--PARTICULAR AFFIDAVITS

Division 12--Miscellaneous

  • 126B False or misleading statement as to swearing etc. of affidavit  

PART VI--RECORDING OF EVIDENCE

  • 130 Power to person acting judicially to direct that evidence be recorded  
  • 131 As to methods of recording evidence  
  • 134 Persons recording evidence under this Part to be officers of the court  
  • 135 Records made under this Part to be received as prima facie evidence of matter therein contained  
  • 137 Penalty for falsely recording evidence  
  • 140 Power to Governor in Council to regulate fees  

PART VII--OFFENCES RELATING TO FALSE DOCUMENTS AND FALSE CERTIFICATES

  • 142 Forgery, using etc. false documents an indictable offence  
  • 143 Printing or using documents falsely purporting to be printed by government printer an indictable offence  
  • 144 Giving false certificates an indictable offence  
  • 145 Interpretation provisions to apply to this Part  

PART VIII--MISCELLANEOUS

Division 3A--of Part II, inserted by section 9 of the Sentencing (Further Amendment) Act 2005, applies to a proceeding for an offence commenced on or after the commencement of that section, regardless of when the offence is alleged to have been committed.

  • 158A Transitional provision—Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 2006  
  • 159 Transitional provision—Crimes (Sexual Offences) (Further Amendment) Act 2006  
  • 160 Transitional provision—Justice Legislation Amendment (Sex Offences Procedure) Act 2008  
  • 161 Transitional provision—Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions) Act 2009  
  • 162 Transitional provision—interpretation of references  
  • 163 Transitional provision—Criminal Procedure Act 2009  
  • 164 Transitional provision—Inquiries Act 2014  
  • 165 Validation of certain acts and documents  
  • 166 Transitional provision—Jury Directions and Other Acts Amendment Act 2017  

Division 4--of Part IIA as amended by section 19 of the Jury Directions and Other Acts Amendment Act 2017 applies to a criminal trial that commences (within the meaning of section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009) on or after the day on which section 19 of the Jury Directions and Other Acts Amendment Act 2017 comes into operation.

  • 166A Transitional provision—COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act 2020  
  • 167 Transitional provision—Justice Legislation Amendment (System Enhancements and Other Matters) Act 2021  
  • 168 Transitional provision—Justice Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences and Other Matters) Act 2022  

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