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EVIDENCE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 1958

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

   89A.    Meaning of unavailability of document  
   89B.    Court may make ruling or order  
   89C.    Matters the court must consider  
   89D.    Relationship of this Division with VCAT Act  
   89E.    Operation of Public Records Act 1973  
   89F.    Division to be in addition to Evidence Act 2008  

   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

   149A.   Admissions of fact in confiscation proceedings  
   151A.   Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
   152.    Regulations  
   155.     Transitional provision—Magistrates' Court (Committal Proceedings) Act 2000  
   156A.   Transitional provision—Sentencing (Further Amendment) Act 2005  

           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  
           SECOND SCHEDULE
           ENDNOTES