{"id":"oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005","name":"Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005","slug":"oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105857,"registerId":"wa-oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nOaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005\n\nWestern Australia\n\nOaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n3. Term used: prescribed consular official 2\n\nPart 2 — Oaths and related matters\n\n4. Oaths, general form of 3\n\n5. Affirmation may be made instead of oath 3\n\n6. Oaths and affirmations, who may administer 4\n\n7. Oaths and affirmations, how administered 5\n\nPart 3 — Affidavits\n\n8. Term used: experienced legal practitioner 6\n\n9. M Affidavits, how made 6\n\n10. Court authorised witness may witness affidavit for use in court 8\n\nPart 4 — Statutory declarations\n\n11. When statutory declaration may be made 10\n\n12. Statutory declarations, how made 10\n\nPart 5 — Miscellaneous\n\n13. Affidavits and declarations by blind or illiterate people 13\n\n14. Affidavits and declarations by people not conversant with English 13\n\n15. Rubber stamp signatures not to be used 14\n\n16. Non‑compliance with form or procedure, effect of 14\n\n17. Pretending to be authorised witness, offence of 14\n\n18. Regulations 15\n\nSchedule 1 — Form of statutory declaration\n\nSchedule 2 — Authorised witnesses for statutory declarations\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 22\n\nUncommenced provisions table 23\n\nOther notes 23\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nOaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005\n\nAn Act about oaths, affidavits and statutory declarations and for related purposes.\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis is the *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005*1.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation 1.\n\n##### 3. Term used: prescribed consular official\n\nIn this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —\n\n  prescribed consular official means —\n\n(a) an Australian Consular Officer, or an Australian Diplomatic Officer, within the meaning of the *Consular Fees Act 1955* of the Commonwealth; or\n\n(b) a British consul or vice consul; or\n\n(c) an official prescribed by the regulations to be a prescribed consular official.\n\n## Part 2 — Oaths and related matters\n\n##### 4. Oaths, general form of\n\n(1) If under this Act or any other law or the exercise of the Royal Prerogative a person has to take an oath, the form of the oath is to begin with one of the following, according to the person’s preference —\n\n(a) I swear by Almighty God…;\n\n(b) I swear by [*name of a deity recognised by his or her religion*]…;\n\n(c) I swear, according to the religion and the beliefs I profess, … .\n\n(2) The fact that at the time of taking an oath a person has no religious belief does not affect the validity of the oath.\n\n(3) Despite subsection (1) a person who has to take an oath may take an oath in any form or manner that he or she wants if the person before whom he or she is to take the oath is satisfied that —\n\n(a) the oath will bind the person’s conscience; and\n\n(b) the person understands the consequences of taking an oath.\n\n(4) An oath taken under subsection (3) has the same force and effect as an oath taken under subsection (1).\n\n##### 5. Affirmation may be made instead of oath\n\n(1) If under this Act or any other law or the exercise of the Royal Prerogative a person has to or may take an oath, the person is entitled to affirm instead.\n\n(2) If under this Act or any other law or the exercise of the Royal Prerogative a person has to take an oath and —\n\n(a) the person says that the taking of an oath is contrary to his or her religious belief or conscience; or\n\n(b) it is not reasonably practicable, without inconvenience or delay, at the time when and place where the oath has to be taken, to administer to the person an oath in a manner and form that will bind the person’s conscience; or\n\n(c) for any other sufficient reason the taking of an oath is found not to be appropriate,\n\nthe person may be required to affirm instead.\n\n(3) An affirmation made instead of an oath has the same force and effect as the oath.\n\n(4) The form of the affirmation is as follows —\n\nI sincerely declare and affirm ... ,\n\nwhich words replace those set out in section 4(1) as the beginning of any oath.\n\n##### 6. Oaths and affirmations, who may administer\n\n(1) When a person appears as a witness before a court or a person acting judicially, any oath or affirmation the witness has to take or make may be administered or taken —\n\n(a) in the case of a witness before a court, by the judicial officer who is presiding in the court or by a person who is authorised to do so by that judicial officer; or\n\n(b) in the case of a witness before a person acting judicially, by that person or by a person who is authorised to do so by that person.\n\n(2) Any registrar or clerk of a court, and any mining registrar appointed under the *Mining Act 1978*, may administer an oath to or take the affirmation of any person for any purpose.\n\n(3) Any person who may lawfully administer an oath to a person may instead take the affirmation of the person.\n\n[Section 6 amended: No. 5 of 2008 s. 81.]\n\n##### 7. Oaths and affirmations, how administered\n\n(1) Subject to section 4(3), the person (A) administering an oath to another person (B) must require B, in the presence of A —\n\n(a) to hold or touch a religious text acceptable to B or, in the absence of such a religious text, to hold up one of B’s hands; and\n\n(b) to say aloud the words of the oath, either by repeating them after A or by reading them.\n\n(2) The person (A) taking the affirmation of another person (B) must require B, in the presence of A, to say aloud the words of the affirmation, either by repeating them after A or by reading them.\n\n(3) The person (A) administering an oath or taking the affirmation of another person (B) by means of an audio link or a video link, within the meaning of those terms in the *Evidence Act 1906* section 120, may do so in as nearly as practicable the same way as if B were in the presence of A.\n\n[Section 7 amended: No. 5 of 2008 s. 82.]\n\n## Part 3 — Affidavits\n\n##### 8. Term used: experienced legal practitioner\n\nIn this Part —\n\n  experienced legal practitioner means a person who is, and has been for at least 2 years, a legal practitioner.\n\n[Section 8 inserted: No. 21 of 2008 s. 684(2); amended: No. 9 of 2022 s. 424.]\n\n##### 9. 1M Affidavits, how made\n\n(1) Unless another written law provides otherwise, an affidavit for any purpose in this State must be made in accordance with this section.\n\n(2) The affidavit must conclude with a statement that says —\n\n(a) it is sworn or affirmed, as the case requires, by the person making it in the presence of an authorised witness; and\n\n(b) where and when it is sworn or affirmed.\n\n(3) The person who is making the affidavit must —\n\n(a) sign or personally mark the statement required by subsection (2) and each other page of the affidavit; and\n\n(b) sign or initial any alteration, such as an insertion or erasure, that has been made to the affidavit; and\n\n(c) in the presence of an authorised witness, say orally on oath or orally affirm —\n\n(i) that he or she is the person named as the maker of the affidavit; and\n\n(ii) that the contents of the affidavit are true; and\n\n(iii) that the signature or mark is his or hers; and\n\n(iv) if necessary, that any attachment to the affidavit is the attachment referred to in it.\n\n(4) The requirements of subsection (3)(a) and (b) need not be complied with in the presence of an authorised witness.\n\n(5) After the maker has complied with subsection (3)(c), the authorised witness must —\n\n(a) under or near the statement required by subsection (2) —\n\n(i) sign or personally mark the affidavit; and\n\n(ii) imprint or clearly write his or her name and qualification as an authorised witness;\n\nand\n\n(b) sign or personally mark each other page of the affidavit; and\n\n(c) sign or initial any alteration in the affidavit that has been signed or initialled by the maker.\n\n(6) An authorised witness for an affidavit that is made at a place within Western Australia is —\n\n(a) a Justice of the Peace; or\n\n(b) an experienced legal practitioner, unless excluded by subsection (7); or\n\n(c) a public notary within the meaning of the *Public Notaries Act 1979*; or\n\n(d) any person referred to in section 6(2).\n\n(7) An experienced legal practitioner who has participated in any way in preparing an affidavit, or in the proceedings in which an affidavit is intended to be used, is not an authorised witness for the affidavit.\n\n(8) An authorised witness for an affidavit that is made at a place outside Western Australia is —\n\n(a) a judge of a court of that place, or a magistrate or justice of the peace of or for that place; or\n\n(b) a notary public; or\n\n(c) a prescribed consular official who is performing official functions at that place; or\n\n(d) a person who has authority under the law of that place to administer an oath to another person.\n\n(9) Subsections (6), (7) and (8) do not affect any other written law that expressly provides for an affidavit to be made before a person other than a person referred to in the subsections.\n\n[Section 9 amended: No. 21 of 2008 s. 684(3) and (4).]\n\n[Section 9: modified by the COVID‑19 Response and Economic Recovery Omnibus Act 2020 (No. 34 of 2020) Part 4 Division 3. See endnote 1M.]\n\n##### 10. Court authorised witness may witness affidavit for use in court\n\n(1) In this section —\n\n  chief judicial officer —\n\n(a) of the Supreme Court, means the Chief Justice;\n\n(b) of the District Court, means the Chief Judge of the court;\n\n(c) of the Family Court, means the Chief Judge of the court;\n\n(d) of the Magistrates Court, means the Chief Magistrate of the court;\n\n(e) of the Children’s Court, means the President of the Court;\n\n  court staff of a court, includes any person employed as an associate, orderly or other assistant to a judicial officer of the court.\n\n(2) The chief judicial officer of a court may appoint any person who is on the court’s staff but who, under section 9(6), is not an authorised witness for affidavits, to be a court authorised witness for the court, and may at any time cancel such an appointment.\n\n(3) The appointment must be in writing and be kept in the court’s records.\n\n(4) A person’s appointment as a court authorised witness ceases when the person ceases to be on the court’s staff or when it is cancelled by the chief judicial officer of the court, whichever happens first.\n\n(5) For the purposes of section 9, a court authorised witness is an authorised witness for any affidavit that is made for use in the court for which the officer is appointed and section 9, with any necessary changes, applies accordingly.\n\n## Part 4 — Statutory declarations\n\n##### 11. When statutory declaration may be made\n\n(1) A person may make a statutory declaration about any matter at any time, for any purpose and without the need for any legal authority to do so other than this section.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not affect the operation of any law that requires a person to make a statutory declaration for a purpose.\n\n##### 12. Statutory declarations, how made\n\n(1) Unless another written law provides otherwise, a statutory declaration for any purpose in this State must be made in accordance with this section.\n\n(2) The statutory declaration must be in the form in Schedule 1.\n\n(3) The person who is making the statutory declaration must —\n\n(a) sign or personally mark the statutory declaration; and\n\n(b) sign or initial any alteration, such as an insertion or erasure, that has been made to the statutory declaration; and\n\n(c) in the presence of an authorised witness declare orally —\n\n(i) that he or she is the person named as the maker of the statutory declaration; and\n\n(ii) that the contents of the statutory declaration are true; and\n\n(iii) that the signature or mark is his or hers; and\n\n(iv) if necessary, that any attachment to the statutory declaration is the attachment referred to in it.\n\n(4) The requirements of subsection (3)(a) and (b) need not be complied with in the presence of an authorised witness.\n\n(5) After the maker has complied with subsection (3)(c), the authorised witness must —\n\n(a) sign or personally mark the statutory declaration; and\n\n(b) sign or initial any alteration in the statutory declaration that has been signed or initialled by the maker; and\n\n(c) imprint or clearly write his or her name and qualification as an authorised witness.\n\n(6) An authorised witness for a statutory declaration is —\n\n(a) for a statutory declaration that is made at a place in Western Australia —\n\n(i) any person described in the second column of Schedule 2; or\n\n(ii) any person before whom, under the *Statutory Declarations Act 1959* of the Commonwealth, a statutory declaration may be made;\n\n(b) for a statutory declaration that is made at a place outside Western Australia but within Australia —\n\n(i) any person who, under the law of that place, has authority to take or receive a statutory, solemn or other declaration; or\n\n(ii) any person before whom, under the *Statutory Declarations Act 1959* of the Commonwealth, a statutory declaration may be made;\n\n(c) for a statutory declaration that is made at any other place —\n\n(i) a prescribed consular official who is performing official functions at that place;\n\n(ii) a person who is a justice or notary public under the law of that place;\n\n(iii) a person who has authority under the law of that place to administer an oath to another person or to take, receive or witness a statutory, solemn or other declaration.\n\n(7) Regulations may amend Schedule 2 by adding a new item to it or by deleting or amending an item in it.\n\n## Part 5 — Miscellaneous\n\n##### 13. Affidavits and declarations by blind or illiterate people\n\n(1) If the person making an affidavit or statutory declaration is blind or illiterate, the authorised witness for the document must —\n\n(a) read the document aloud to the person, or cause the document to be read aloud to the person in the authorised witness’s presence; and\n\n(b) satisfy himself or herself that the person understood what was read aloud; and\n\n(c) certify on the document —\n\n(i) that the document was read aloud to the person; and\n\n(ii) that the authorised witness is satisfied that the person understood what was read aloud.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) is additional to section 9 or 12, as the case may be.\n\n##### 14. Affidavits and declarations by people not conversant with English\n\n(1) If the person making an affidavit is not sufficiently conversant with English to be able to make the affidavit in English, the person may make the affidavit in another language but the affidavit is not admissible in a court or by a person acting judicially unless —\n\n(a) the affidavit is translated into written English by a suitably qualified translator; and\n\n(b) the translator makes an affidavit —\n\n(i) that sets out his or her qualifications as a translator; and\n\n(ii) that says the English translation is accurate; and\n\n(iii) that has the English translation attached to it.\n\n(2) Subsection (1), with any necessary changes, applies to and in respect of a statutory declaration as if each reference in the subsection to “affidavit” were a reference to “statutory declaration”.\n\n##### 15. Rubber stamp signatures not to be used\n\n(1) A person who is the maker of, or the witness to, an affidavit or statutory declaration must not use a rubber or other stamp to make the person’s signature or personal mark.\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent a person from using a rubber or other stamp on an affidavit or statutory declaration to imprint the person’s name near the person’s signature or mark to identify whose signature or mark it is.\n\n(3) An affidavit or statutory declaration that is signed by the maker or witness with a rubber stamp is not admissible in a court or by a person acting judicially.\n\n##### 16. Non‑compliance with form or procedure, effect of\n\n(1) The validity of an oath, affirmation or statutory declaration is not affected by the fact that the person taking or making it does not use the exact words required as long as the words actually used do not materially affect the substance of the exact words and are not likely to mislead.\n\n(2) The validity of an oath, affirmation, affidavit or statutory declaration is not affected by the fact that the required procedure for taking or making it is not followed exactly as long as the procedure actually followed substantially complies with the required procedure.\n\n##### 17. Pretending to be authorised witness, offence of\n\nIf a person who is not an authorised witness for affidavits or for statutory declarations pretends to be, or asserts that he or she is, such an authorised witness in the knowledge that he or she is not, the person commits an offence.\n\nPenalty: Imprisonment for 12 months.\n\n##### 18. Regulations\n\nThe Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.\n\nSchedule 1 — Form of statutory declaration\n\n[s. 12]\n\nI,\n\n[*name, address and occupation of person making the declaration*]\n\nsincerely declare as follows —\n\n[*insert content of the statutory declaration; use numbered paragraphs if content is long*]\n\nThis declaration is true and I know that it is an offence to make a declaration knowing that it is false in a material particular.\n\nThis declaration is made under the *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005* at [*place*] on [*date*] by —\n\n[*Signature of person making the declaration*]  \n\nin the presence of —\n\n[*Signature of authorised witness*]\n\n[*Name of authorised witness and qualification as such a witness*]\n\nSchedule 2 — Authorised witnesses for statutory declarations\n\n[s. 12(6)(a)]\n\n| **Item** | | **Formal description** | | **Informal description** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1. | | A member of the academic staff of an institution established under any of the following Acts —<br>• *Curtin University Act 1966*;<br>*• Edith Cowan University Act 1984*;<br>*• Murdoch University Act 1973*;<br>*• University of Notre Dame Australia Act 1989*;<br>*• University of Western Australia Act 1911*;<br>*• Vocational Education and Training Act 1996*. | | Academic (post‑secondary institution) |\n| 2. | | A member of any of the following bodies —<br>• Association of Taxation and Management Accountants (ACN 002 876 208);<br>• CPA Australia (ACN 008 392 452);<br>• The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ARBN 084 642 571);<br>• Institute of Public Accountants   (ACN 004 130 643);<br>• National Tax & Accountants’ Association Limited (ACN 057 551 854). | | Accountant |\n| 3. | | A person who is registered under the *Architects Act 2004.* | | Architect |\n| 4. | | An Australian Consular Officer within the meaning of the *Consular Fees Act 1955* of the Commonwealth. | | Australian Consular Officer |\n| 5. | | An Australian Diplomatic Officer within the meaning of the *Consular Fees Act 1955* of the Commonwealth. | | Australian Diplomatic Officer |\n| 6. | | A bailiff appointed under the *Civil Judgments Enforcement Act 2004.* | | Bailiff |\n| 7. | | A person appointed to be in charge of the head office or any branch office of an authorised deposit‑taking institution carrying on business in the State under the *Banking Act 1959* of the Commonwealth. | | Bank manager |\n| 8. | | A member of Governance Institute of Australia Ltd (ACN 008 615 950). | | Chartered secretary, governance adviser or risk manager |\n| 9. | | A person who is registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the pharmacy profession. | | Chemist |\n| 10. | A person who is registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the chiropractic profession. | | Chiropractor | |\n| 11. | | A person registered as an auditor or a liquidator under the *Corporations Act 2001* of the Commonwealth. | Company auditor or liquidator | |\n| 12. | | A judge, master, magistrate, registrar or clerk, or the chief executive officer, of any court of the State or the Commonwealth. | Court officer | |\n| 13. | | A member of the Australian Defence Force who is —<br>• an officer within the meaning of the *Defence Force Discipline Act 1982* of the Commonwealth; or<br>• a non‑commissioned officer within the meaning of that Act with 5 or more years of continuous service; or<br>• a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act. | Defence force officer | |\n| 14. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the dental profession whose name is entered on the Dentists Division of the Register of Dental Practitioners kept under that Law. | Dentist | |\n| 15. | | A person who is registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the medical profession. | Doctor | |\n| 15A. | | A person appointed under the *Parliamentary and Electorate Staff (Employment) Act 1992* section 4(1)(b)(i) or (2)(b)(i) | Electorate officer of a member of State Parliament | |\n| 16. | | A member of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, other than at the grade of student. | Engineer | |\n| 17. | | The secretary of an organisation of employees or employers that is registered under one of the following Acts —<br>*• Industrial Relations Act 1979*;<br>*• Workplace Relations Act 1996* of the Commonwealth. | Industrial organisation secretary | |\n| 18. | | A member of the National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia (ACN 006 093 849). | Insurance broker | |\n| 19. | | A Justice of the Peace. | Justice of the Peace | |\n| 19A. | | A person who is a member of the Authority’s staff within the meaning given to that term by the *Land Information Authority Act 2006* section 3. | Landgate officer | |\n| 20. | | A lawyer. | Lawyer | |\n| 21. | | The chief executive officer or deputy chief executive officer of a local government. | Local government CEO or deputy CEO | |\n| 22. | | A member of the council of a local government within the meaning of the *Local Government Act 1995*. | Local government councillor | |\n| 23. | | A member of the Australasian Institute of Chartered Loss Adjusters (ACN 074 804 167). | Loss adjuster | |\n| 24. | | An authorised celebrant within the meaning of the *Marriage Act 1961* of the Commonwealth. | Marriage celebrant | |\n| 25. | | A member of either House of Parliament of the State or of the Commonwealth. | Member of Parliament | |\n| 25A. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the midwifery profession. | Midwife | |\n| 26. | | A minister of religion registered under Part IV Division 1 of the *Marriage Act 1961* of the Commonwealth. | Minister of religion | |\n| 27. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the nursing profession. | Nurse | |\n| 28. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the optometry profession. | Optometrist | |\n| 28A. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the paramedicine profession. | Paramedic | |\n| 29. | | A registered patent attorney under the *Patents Act 1990* of the Commonwealth. | Patent attorney | |\n| 30. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the physiotherapy profession. | Physiotherapist | |\n| 31. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the podiatry profession. | Podiatrist | |\n| 32. | | A police officer. | Police officer | |\n| 33. | | The person in charge of an office established by, or conducted by an agent of, Australia Post within the meaning of the *Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989* of the Commonwealth. | Post office manager | |\n| 34. | | A person registered under the *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia)* in the psychology profession. | Psychologist | |\n| 35. | | A public notary within the meaning of the *Public Notaries Act 1979*. | Public notary | |\n| 36. | | An officer of the Commonwealth public service. | Public servant (Commonwealth) | |\n| 37. | | A person who is employed under the *Public Sector Management Act 1994* Part 3. | Public servant (State) | |\n| 38. | | The holder of a licence under the *Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978*. | Real estate agent | |\n| 39. | | The holder of a licence under the *Settlement Agents Act 1981*. | Settlement agent | |\n| 40. | | The Sheriff of Western Australia and any deputy sheriff appointed by the Sheriff of Western Australia. | Sheriff or deputy sheriff | |\n| 41. | | A licensed surveyor within the meaning of the *Licensed Surveyors Act 1909.* | Surveyor | |\n| 42. | | A person registered under the *Teacher Registration Act 2012*. | Registered teacher | |\n| 43. | | A member, registrar or clerk, or the chief executive officer, of any tribunal of the State or the Commonwealth. | Tribunal officer | |\n| 44. | | A veterinarian as defined in the *Veterinary Practice Act 2021* section 3. | Veterinarian | |\n\n\n[Schedule 2 amended: Gazette 9 Jun 2006 p. 2030; 21 Dec 2007 p. 6328; 9 Dec 2011 p. 5235; 17 Apr 2014 p. 1076; amended: No. 21 of 2008 s. 684(5); No. 22 of 2008 Sch. 3 cl. 39; No. 35 of 2010 s. 120; No. 16 of 2012 s. 165; No. 32 of 2016 s. 188; No. 4 of 2018 s. 115; No. 19 of 2021 s. 233(2); No. 9 of 2022 s. 424.]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table. For provisions that have not yet come into operation see the uncommenced provisions table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | | **Number and year** | | **Assent** | | **Commencement** | |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005* | | 23 of 2005 | | 2 Dec 2005 | | s. 1 and 2: 2 Dec 2005;    Act other than s. 1 and 2: 1 Jan 2006 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 23 Dec 2005 p. 6244) | |\n| *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Act Amendment) Regulations 2006* r. 3 published in *Gazette* 9 Jun 2006 p. 2030 | | | | | | 9 Jun 2006 | |\n| *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Act Amendment) Regulations 2007* r. 4 published in *Gazette* 21 Dec 2007 p. 6328 | | | | | | 22 Dec 2007 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Acts Amendment (Justice) Act 2008* Pt. 17 | | 5 of 2008 | | 31 Mar 2008 | | 30 Sep 2008 (see s. 2(d) and *Gazette* 11 Jul 2008 p. 3253) | |\n| *Legal Profession Act 2008* s. 684 | | 21 of 2008 | | 27 May 2008 | | 1 Mar 2009 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 27 Feb 2009 p. 511) | |\n| *Medical Practitioners Act 2008* Sch. 3 cl. 39 | | 22 of 2008 | | 27 May 2008 | | 1 Dec 2008 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 25 Nov 2008 p. 4989) | |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005* as at 9 Jan 2009** (includes amendments listed above except those in the *Legal Profession Act 2008*) | | | | | | | |\n| *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Act 2010* Pt. 5 Div. 38 | | 35 of 2010 | | 30 Aug 2010 | | 18 Oct 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 1 Oct 2010 p. 5075‑6) | |\n| *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Act Amendment) Regulations 2011* r. 4 published in *Gazette* 9 Dec 2011 p. 5235 | | | | | | 10 Dec 2011 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Teacher Registration Act 2012* s. 165 | | 16 of 2012 | | 3 Jul 2012 | | 7 Dec 2012 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 16 Nov 2012 p. 5637) | |\n| *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations (Act Amendment) Regulations 2014* r. 4 published in *Gazette* 17 Apr 2014 p. 1075-6 | | | | | | 18 Apr 2014 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005* as at 4 Dec 2015** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | | | | |\n| *Universities Legislation Amendment Act 2016* Pt. 7 Div. 6 | | 32 of 2016 | | 19 Oct 2016 | | 2 Jan 2017 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 9 Dec 2016 p. 5557) |\n| *Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) Amendment Act 2018* s. 115 | | 4 of 2018 | | 19 Apr 2018 | | 1 Dec 2018 (see s. 2(d) and *Gazette* 13 Nov 2018 p. 4427‑8) |\n| *Veterinary Practice Act 2021* s. 233 | | 19 of 2021 | | 27 Oct 2021 | | 18 Jun 2022 (see s. 2(b) and SL 2022/81 cl. 2) |\n| *Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022* s. 424 | | 9 of 2022 | | 14 Apr 2022 | | 1 Jul 2022 (see s. 2(c) and SL 2022/113 cl. 2) |\n\n\nUncommenced provisions table\n\nTo view the text of the uncommenced provisions see *Acts as passed* on the WA Legislation website.\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Evidence Act 2025* s. 492(2) | 15 of 2025 | 25 Sep 2025 | To be proclaimed (see s. 2(e)) |\n\n\nOther notes\n\n1M The *COVID‑19 Response and Economic Recovery Omnibus Act 2020* Part 4 Division 3 modifies section 9 of the Act. The modified section is identified by the superscript 1M appearing after the section number. The modification ceases on 31 December 2021 unless postponed under section 44(3) and 52 of that Act.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nA 7(1), (2) and (3)\n\nB 7(1), (2) and (3)\n\nchief judicial officer 10(1)\n\ncourt staff 10(1)\n\nexperienced legal practitioner 8\n\nprescribed consular official 3\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope assessment is not possible as the legislative text was unavailable for review. No content was returned that would allow a comparison between original intent and enacted provisions."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was retrievable — the page returned a 'not available' error rather than the Act's text","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without access to the actual provisions","Score of 1 reflects absence of analysable content, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"## Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Act 2005 (WA)\n\n**⚠️ Content Unavailable**\n\nThe actual text of this Western Australian legislation could not be retrieved. The page hosting this Act on the Western Australian legislation website is no longer available at its previous address due to system upgrades.\n\n**What we know from the title:**\nThis Act likely governs how people in Western Australia must formally swear or affirm the truth of statements in legal and official contexts, including:\n- **Oaths** (a solemn promise, often invoking religious belief, to tell the truth)\n- **Affidavits** (written statements sworn or affirmed to be true, used in court proceedings)\n- **Statutory declarations** (formal written statements declared to be true, used for non-court purposes like changing a name or declaring a fact to a government agency)\n\n**Who it likely affects:** Virtually anyone who needs to sign a legal document, make a court statement, or declare facts to a government body in Western Australia.\n\n**To access the current Act:** Visit the [Parliamentary Counsel's Office](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au) and search directly for the Act title."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of regulating oaths, affidavits, and statutory declarations. While Schedule 2 has been expanded over time to include additional authorised witnesses (such as paramedics, midwives, and Landgate officers), these additions represent natural updates to keep pace with changing professional landscapes rather than scope creep. The core mechanics of the Act have remained stable since 2005."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward structure with only 5 Parts and 18 sections","Minimal cross-referencing—mostly internal references to other sections of the same Act","Only 6 defined terms in the interpretation section","Clear procedural rules with numbered steps (e.g., section 9(3) lists exactly what a person must do when making an affidavit)","Schedule 2 contains a long but simple list of authorised witnesses (44 categories) with formal and informal descriptions","Some minor complexity from amendments (e.g., COVID-19 modifications noted in endnotes, section 8 definition of 'experienced legal practitioner' inserted later)","Simple conditional logic (e.g., 'if made in Western Australia... if made outside Western Australia') without nested exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"This Western Australian law sets out the rules for making legally binding promises and statements. It covers three main things:\n\n**1. Oaths and affirmations** (Part 2)\n- When people need to swear an oath (a religious promise to tell the truth), they can choose between swearing by God, by their own deity, or according to their personal beliefs.\n- People who don't want to swear a religious oath can make an **affirmation** instead—a solemn non-religious promise that has exactly the same legal effect.\n- Court officials, mining registrars, and other authorised people can administer these oaths and affirmations.\n\n**2. Affidavits** (Part 3)\n- An **affidavit** is a written statement made under oath or affirmation, used as evidence in court or other legal proceedings.\n- The law specifies exactly how to make one: signing each page, having alterations initialled, and appearing before an **authorised witness** (such as a Justice of the Peace, lawyer, or notary public) to swear it's true.\n- Special rules apply for affidavits made overseas.\n\n**3. Statutory declarations** (Part 4)\n- A **statutory declaration** is a formal written statement declaring something to be true, used for administrative purposes (like verifying identity or circumstances) rather than court cases.\n- Anyone can make one at any time using the form in Schedule 1.\n- Schedule 2 lists dozens of authorised witnesses who can sign off, including doctors, nurses, police officers, bank managers, teachers, accountants, and many others.\n\n**Special protections** (Part 5)\n- Extra steps are required when the person making the document is blind, illiterate, or doesn't speak English.\n- Rubber stamp signatures are banned.\n- Minor mistakes in wording or procedure won't invalidate the document as long as the substance is correct.\n- It's a criminal offence (up to 12 months in prison) to pretend to be an authorised witness when you're not.\n\n**Why it matters:** This law ensures that formal statements made for legal or official purposes are trustworthy and properly verified, while remaining accessible to people of all religions, languages, and abilities."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act’s practical scope has been expanded and adjusted since the original 2005 enactment. The compilation and amendment notes show repeated additions and changes to the list of authorised witnesses in Schedule 2 (see Schedule 2 and compilation table), statutory updates to the definition and role of \"experienced legal practitioner\" (see section 8 and compilation notes), and an explicit temporary modification to section 9 under COVID‑19 emergency legislation (see endnote 1M). The Act also expressly allows regulations to amend Schedule 2 (section 12(7)) and permits administrative appointments of court authorised witnesses by chief judicial officers (section 10), providing ongoing mechanisms to change practical scope without re‑enacting the primary provisions. These changes broaden who may act as witnesses, clarify remote witnessing (section 7(3)), and modify procedural details over time."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive cross‑references to many other statutes and external qualification regimes (e.g. Consular Fees Act, Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth), various professional registration laws) which require checking external law to determine who qualifies as an authorised witness (see sections 3, 9(6)–(8), 12(6) and Schedule 2).","A long, evolving Schedule 2 listing many categories of authorised witnesses with periodic amendments (see Schedule 2 and compilation notes), increasing practical detail to verify for any given witness.","Different rules depending on where the document is made (within WA, elsewhere in Australia, overseas) with different permitted witnesses and consular possibilities (see sections 9(6)–(8) and 12(6)).","Procedural formalities (signing or marking each page, initialling alterations, oral statements in the presence of an authorised witness) combined with a substantial‑compliance saving provision (sections 9, 12 and 16) that require interpretation in edge cases.","Special procedural paths for blind/illiterate makers and for non‑English speakers that invoke translator qualifications and secondary affidavits (sections 13–14).","Powers for remote administration (audio/video link, section 7(3)) and temporary/modified provisions historically (section 9 modified by COVID‑19 legislation), which introduce technological and temporal complexity.","Delegations and discretionary appointments (chief judicial officers can appoint court authorised witnesses; Governor may make regulations; regulations may amend Schedule 2) that create administrative variability (sections 10 and 18 and 12(7)).","Criminal sanction for false representation as an authorised witness (section 17) that introduces enforcement and evidentiary concerns."],"plain_english_summary":"# What this law does\n\n- This Act sets the rules for taking oaths and affirmations, for making affidavits, and for making statutory declarations in Western Australia. It tells you the form those documents must take, who may witness them, what procedure must be followed, and some exceptions and penalties. (See Parts 2–5.)\n\n# Who it affects\n\n- Individuals who must swear an oath, affirm, make an affidavit or make a statutory declaration. (Parts 2–4.)\n- The persons authorised to witness or administer oaths, affidavits and statutory declarations — a long list of public officers, professionals and other specified categories in Schedule 2, plus judges, notaries, specified consular officials and certain court staff. (See section 9(6)–(8), section 12(6) and Schedule 2.)\n- Courts and judicial officers who may administer oaths or authorise others to do so, and chief judicial officers who may appoint court authorised witnesses. (See sections 6 and 10.)\n- Translators, interpreters and suitably qualified persons who assist people who are blind, illiterate or not conversant in English. (See sections 13 and 14.)\n- Anyone who falsely claims to be an authorised witness faces criminal penalty. (See section 17.)\n\n# How it works, mechanically\n\n- Oaths: The Act gives standard opening words for oaths but allows people to choose a deity or a form that fits their beliefs. It also permits a person to use a different form if the person before whom the oath is taken is satisfied it will bind the person’s conscience; such an alternative oath has the same legal effect. (Section 4.)\n- Affirmations: A person entitled to take an oath may instead make an affirmation using the prescribed words; the affirmation carries the same legal force. A court or person acting judicially may require affirmation in specified circumstances. (Section 5.)\n- Who may administer: Judicial officers, registrars and clerks of court and certain other officers may administer oaths and take affirmations; authorised witnesses for affidavits and statutory declarations are listed in the Act and Schedule 2. (Sections 6, 9(6) and 12(6); Schedule 2.)\n- Procedure for affidavits and statutory declarations: The Act prescribes signing and witnessing steps (maker signs or marks each page; maker orally swears/affirms in the presence of an authorised witness; witness signs, prints name and qualification; alterations must be initialled). The Act specifies the required concluding statement and a model statutory declaration form in Schedule 1. (Sections 9 and 12; Schedule 1.)\n- Location differences: Different rules apply depending on where a document is made — within WA, elsewhere in Australia, or overseas — and permit consular officials, notaries or persons with local authority to act as authorised witnesses when outside WA. (Sections 9(6)–(8), 12(6).)\n- Remote witnessing: An oath or affirmation may be administered by audio or video link in as nearly as practicable the same way as if the person were physically present. (Section 7(3).)\n- Special needs and language: The Act sets out procedures when the maker is blind, illiterate, or not sufficiently conversant in English (including requirement for a translator’s affidavit for non‑English affidavits to be admissible). (Sections 13 and 14.)\n- Formality limits and admissibility: Rubber‑stamp signatures are prohibited for makers and witnesses; documents signed with a rubber stamp are not admissible. Minor departures from exact wording or procedure do not invalidate an oath, affirmation, affidavit or statutory declaration if the substance and substantial compliance are preserved. (Sections 15 and 16.)\n- Enforcement and regulation: There is a criminal offence (up to 12 months imprisonment) for pretending to be an authorised witness. The Governor may make regulations to implement the Act; regulations may also amend the list of authorised witnesses in Schedule 2. (Sections 17 and 18; section 12(7).)\n\n# Stated purpose and a practical test against costs, incentives and trade‑offs\n\n- The Act’s stated/legal purpose is to prescribe how oaths, affidavits and statutory declarations are to be made and witnessed in WA (see the Act heading and Parts 2–4). That purpose implies predictability and consistent admissibility standards for those documents.\n\n- Who pays and who bears costs: Individuals making affidavits or declarations bear the time and administrative cost of arranging an authorised witness, complying with signing and witnessing steps, and, if applicable, paying a translator or travelling to a witness. Certain professionals listed in Schedule 2 may incur time costs when asked to act as authorised witnesses. (See sections 9, 12, 13, 14 and Schedule 2.)\n\n- Incentives and behaviour changes: The Act expands the pool of people who can act as authorised witnesses (Schedule 2), which reduces the transaction cost for members of the public to find a witness. The rule disallowing the preparer of an affidavit from then witnessing it (section 9(7)) creates an incentive to use an independent witness.\n\n- Compliance burden and enforcement risk: The Act imposes formal signing, witnessing and attestation steps; failure to comply can affect admissibility, although section 16 avoids strict invalidation where substantial compliance exists. False claims about being an authorised witness carry criminal sanction (section 17), which creates enforcement obligations for police and courts.\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and update pathway: The Governor may make regulations (section 18) and the Act expressly permits amendment of Schedule 2 by regulation (section 12(7)). Chief judicial officers can appoint court authorised witnesses (section 10), so administrative decisions can change practical access to witnessing. These mechanisms let authorised‑witness categories and procedures be updated without re‑enacting the entire Act.\n\n- Effects on private enterprise and independent business: Allowing many private professionals (bank managers, lawyers, real estate agents, health practitioners, etc.) to act as authorised witnesses (Schedule 2) creates a modest, lawful role for private actors in public‑facing formalities. That can reduce demand for courts or public office hours for witnessing, while imposing small time or reputational costs on those professionals when they act as witnesses.\n\n- Trade‑offs and operational risks: The Act balances formality (page‑by‑page signing, witness qualifications) with flexibility (affirmation option, alternative wording where it binds conscience, substantial‑compliance rule, remote witnessing). The practical trade‑off is between legal certainty and accessibility: formal steps improve traceability but increase time and coordination costs for makers and witnesses. The Act provides mechanisms (regulations, Schedule 2 updates, court authorised witness appointments) to adjust that balance over time.\n\n# Key provisions to look at quickly\n\n- Standard oath and alternative forms: section 4.\n- Right to affirm and form of affirmation: section 5.\n- Procedure for administering oaths/affirmations, including remote links: section 7.\n- Affidavit formalities and authorised witnesses: section 9 (and definition of \"experienced legal practitioner\" in section 8).\n- Statutory declaration form and authorised witnesses: section 12 and Schedule 1 and 2.\n- Special rules for blind/illiterate and non‑English speakers: sections 13–14.\n- Criminal offence for falsely claiming to be an authorised witness: section 17.\n- Regulation power and ability to amend authorised‑witness list: sections 18 and 12(7)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005","history":"/api/acts/oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005/history","analysis":"/api/acts/oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/oaths-affidavits-and-statutory-declarations-act-2005/documents"}}