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Criminal Code Act 1983
96Perjury
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96 Perjury
(1) Any person who in any judicial proceedings, or for the purpose of
instituting any judicial proceedings, knowingly gives false testimony
touching any matter that is material to any question then depending
in the proceedings, or intended to be raised in the proceedings, is
guilty of an offence that is called perjury.
(2) It is immaterial whether the testimony is given on oath or under any
other sanction authorized by law.
(3) The forms and ceremonies used in administering the oath or in
otherwise binding the person giving the testimony to speak the truth
are immaterial if he assents to the forms and ceremonies actually
used.
(4) It is immaterial whether the false testimony is given orally or in
writing.
(5) It is immaterial whether the court or tribunal is properly constituted,
or is held in the proper place or not, if it actually acts as a court or
tribunal in the proceedings in which the testimony is given.
(6) It is immaterial whether the person who gives the testimony is a
competent witness or not, or whether the testimony is admissible in
the proceedings or not.