Section 1 - Evidence Act 1905 - Evidence Act 1905

1Evidence Act 1905

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Evidence Act 1905

No. 4, 1905

Compilation No. 5

Compilation date: 18 April 1995

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 3, 1995

Registered: 25 January 2023

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Evidence Act 1905 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 18 April 1995 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

An Act relating to the Law of Evidence

Note: Endnotes

Note: Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub‑subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

Act	Number and year	Assent	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Evidence Act 1905	4, 1905	25 Aug 1905	25 Aug 1905
Evidence Act 1934	43, 1934	4 Aug 1934	4 Aug 1934	—
Statute Law Revision Act 1950	80, 1950	16 Dec 1950	First Sch: 31 Dec 1950 (s 2)	s 16, 17
Evidence Act 1956	48, 1956	30 June 1956	14 Aug 1956 (s 2)	—
Evidence Act 1963	28, 1963	30 May 1963	27 June 1963	—
Evidence Act 1964	53, 1964	30 May 1964	27 June 1964	—
Evidence Act 1973	80, 1973	19 June 1973	1 July 1973 (s 2 and gaz 1973, No 79)	—
Statute Law Revision Act 1973	216, 1973	19 Dec 1973	Sch 1: 31 Dec 1973 (s 2)	s 9(1), 10
Evidence Act 1974	31, 1974	1 Aug 1974	1 Aug 1974 (s 2)	—
Evidence Amendment Act 1978	14, 1978	14 Apr 1978	14 Apr 1978 (s 2)	—
Evidence Amendment Act 1979	139, 1979	23 Nov 1979	s 1, 2, 4: 23 Nov 1979 (s 2(1)s 3: 21 Apr 1980 (s 2(2) and gaz 1980, No S82)	—
Parliamentary Joint Sittings Amendment Act 1981	39, 1981	1 May 1981	s 3: 1 May 1981 (s 2)	—
Census and Statistics Amendment Act (No. 2) 1981	177, 1981	8 Dec 1981	s 12 (2nd occurring), 13 (2nd occurring): 1 Mar 1983 (s 2 and gaz 1983, No S36)	s 12 (2nd occurring)
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1983	91, 1983	22 Nov 1983	s 6 and Sch 1: 20 Dec 1983 (s 2(1))	s 6(1)
Evidence Amendment Act 1985	198, 1985	16 Dec 1985	1 Sept 1986 (s 2 and gaz 1986, No S422)	—
Industrial Relations (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988	87, 1988	8 Nov 1988	Sch 2: 1 Mar 1989 (s 2(2) and gaz 1989, No S53)	—
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1989	11, 1990	17 Jan 1990	s 32–34: 14 Feb 1990 (s 2(1))	—
Trade Practices (Misuse of Trans-Tasman Market Power) Act 1990	70, 1990	16 June 1990	s 24, 25: 1 July 1990 (s 2 and gaz 1990, No S172)	—
Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 1991	28, 1991	4 Mar 1991	Sch 2: 4 Mar 1991 (s 2(1))	—
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993	13, 1994	18 Jan 1994	s 40: 11 Apr 1994 (s 2(3) and gaz No S126)	—
Foreign Evidence (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1994	43, 1994	15 Mar 1994	s 3, 4: 9 Apr 1994 (s 2(2))	s 4(2)
Evidence and Procedure (New Zealand) (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1994	112, 1994	16 Sept 1994	s 3(2) and Sch: 1 Apr 1995 (s 2(2) and gaz 1995, No GN8)	s 3(2)
Evidence (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1995	3, 1995	23 Feb 1995	s 3, 4: 23 Feb 1995 (s 2(1))	s 4

Act

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Evidence Act 1905

4, 1905

25 Aug 1905

Evidence Act 1934

43, 1934

4 Aug 1934

—

Statute Law Revision Act 1950

80, 1950

16 Dec 1950

First Sch: 31 Dec 1950 (s 2)

s 16, 17

Evidence Act 1956

48, 1956

30 June 1956

14 Aug 1956 (s 2)

—

Evidence Act 1963

28, 1963

30 May 1963

27 June 1963

—

Evidence Act 1964

53, 1964

30 May 1964

27 June 1964

—

Evidence Act 1973

80, 1973

19 June 1973

1 July 1973 (s 2 and gaz 1973, No 79)

—

Statute Law Revision Act 1973

216, 1973

19 Dec 1973

Sch 1: 31 Dec 1973 (s 2)

s 9(1), 10

Evidence Act 1974

31, 1974

1 Aug 1974

1 Aug 1974 (s 2)

—

Evidence Amendment Act 1978

14, 1978

14 Apr 1978

14 Apr 1978 (s 2)

—

Evidence Amendment Act 1979

139, 1979

23 Nov 1979

s 1, 2, 4: 23 Nov 1979 (s 2(1)s 3: 21 Apr 1980 (s 2(2) and gaz 1980, No S82)

—

Parliamentary Joint Sittings Amendment Act 1981

39, 1981

1 May 1981

s 3: 1 May 1981 (s 2)

—

Census and Statistics Amendment Act (No. 2) 1981

177, 1981

8 Dec 1981

s 12 (2nd occurring), 13 (2nd occurring): 1 Mar 1983 (s 2 and gaz 1983, No S36)

s 12 (2nd occurring)

Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1983

91, 1983

22 Nov 1983

s 6 and Sch 1: 20 Dec 1983 (s 2(1))

s 6(1)

Evidence Amendment Act 1985

198, 1985

16 Dec 1985

1 Sept 1986 (s 2 and gaz 1986, No S422)

—

Industrial Relations (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988

87, 1988

8 Nov 1988

Sch 2: 1 Mar 1989 (s 2(2) and gaz 1989, No S53)

—

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1989

11, 1990

17 Jan 1990

s 32–34: 14 Feb 1990 (s 2(1))

—

Trade Practices (Misuse of Trans-Tasman Market Power) Act 1990

70, 1990

16 June 1990

s 24, 25: 1 July 1990 (s 2 and gaz 1990, No S172)

—

Crimes Legislation Amendment Act 1991

28, 1991

4 Mar 1991

Sch 2: 4 Mar 1991 (s 2(1))

—

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1993

13, 1994

18 Jan 1994

s 40: 11 Apr 1994 (s 2(3) and gaz No S126)

—

Foreign Evidence (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1994

43, 1994

15 Mar 1994

s 3, 4: 9 Apr 1994 (s 2(2))

s 4(2)

Evidence and Procedure (New Zealand) (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1994

112, 1994

16 Sept 1994

s 3(2) and Sch: 1 Apr 1995 (s 2(2) and gaz 1995, No GN8)

s 3(2)

Evidence (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1995

3, 1995

23 Feb 1995

s 3, 4: 23 Feb 1995 (s 2(1))

s 4

Provision affected	How affected
Part I...................	rep No 3, 1995
Heading to Part I............	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 1.....................	rep No 3, 1995
s 1A....................	ad No 53, 1964
	rep No 216, 1973
s 2.....................	am No 80, 1950; No 48, 1956; No 31, 1974; No 39, 1981
	rep No 3, 1995
Heading to Part II...........	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 3.....................	am No 216, 1973
	rep No 3, 1995
s 4.....................	am No 80, 1950; No 48, 1956; No 31, 1974; No 139, 1979; No 91, 1983; No 87, 1988; No 13, 1994
	rep No 3, 1995
s 4A....................	ad No 53, 1964
	am No 216, 1973
	rep No 3, 1995
Heading to Part III...........	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 5.....................	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 6.....................	am No 91, 1983
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7.....................	am No 28, 1963; No 31, 1974
	rep No 3, 1995
Part IIIA.................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7A....................	ad No14, 1978
	am No 91, 1983
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7B....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7C....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7D....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7E....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7F....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7G....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7H....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7J....................	ad No 14, 1978
	am No 198, 1985; No 28, 1991
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7K....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7L....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7M....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7N....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7P....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7Q....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7R....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
s 7S....................	ad No 14, 1978
	rep No 3, 1995
	am No 139, 1979
Part IIIB.................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7T....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7U....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7V....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7W....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7WA..................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7WB..................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7X....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7Y....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7Z....................	ad No 198, 1985
	rep No 43, 1994
Part IIIC.................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZA...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZB...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZC...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZD...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZE...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZF...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
s 7ZG...................	ad No 11, 1990
	rep No 43, 1994
Heading to Part IV..........	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 8.....................	rs No 80, 1973
	rep No 3, 1995
s 9.....................	rep No 3, 1995
s 10....................	rep No 3, 1995
s 10A...................	ad No 43, 1934
	am No 177, 1981
	rep No 3, 1995
Heading to Part V...........	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11....................	rep No 3, 1995
s 11A...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11B...................	rep No 112, 1994
s 11C...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11D...................	rep No 112, 1994
s 11E...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11F...................	am No 112, 1994
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11G...................	rep No 112, 1994
s 11H...................	rep No 112, 1994
s 11J....................	rep No 112, 1994
s 11K...................	rep No 112, 1994
s 11L...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11M...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11N...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11P...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11Q...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
s 11R...................	ad No 70, 1990
	rep No 3, 1995
Heading to Part VI..........	rs No 53, 1964
	rep No 3, 1995
s 12....................	rep No 3, 1995

Provision affected

How affected

Part I...................

rep No 3, 1995

Heading to Part I............

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 1.....................

rep No 3, 1995

s 1A....................

ad No 53, 1964

rep No 216, 1973

s 2.....................

am No 80, 1950; No 48, 1956; No 31, 1974; No 39, 1981

rep No 3, 1995

Heading to Part II...........

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 3.....................

am No 216, 1973

rep No 3, 1995

s 4.....................

am No 80, 1950; No 48, 1956; No 31, 1974; No 139, 1979; No 91, 1983; No 87, 1988; No 13, 1994

rep No 3, 1995

s 4A....................

ad No 53, 1964

am No 216, 1973

rep No 3, 1995

Heading to Part III...........

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 5.....................

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 6.....................

am No 91, 1983

rep No 3, 1995

s 7.....................

am No 28, 1963; No 31, 1974

rep No 3, 1995

Part IIIA.................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7A....................

ad No14, 1978

am No 91, 1983

rep No 3, 1995

s 7B....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7C....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7D....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7E....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7F....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7G....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7H....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7J....................

ad No 14, 1978

am No 198, 1985; No 28, 1991

rep No 3, 1995

s 7K....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7L....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7M....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7N....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7P....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7Q....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7R....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

s 7S....................

ad No 14, 1978

rep No 3, 1995

am No 139, 1979

Part IIIB.................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7T....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7U....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7V....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7W....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7WA..................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7WB..................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7X....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7Y....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

s 7Z....................

ad No 198, 1985

rep No 43, 1994

Part IIIC.................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZA...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZB...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZC...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZD...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZE...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZF...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

s 7ZG...................

ad No 11, 1990

rep No 43, 1994

Heading to Part IV..........

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 8.....................

rs No 80, 1973

rep No 3, 1995

s 9.....................

rep No 3, 1995

s 10....................

rep No 3, 1995

s 10A...................

ad No 43, 1934

am No 177, 1981

rep No 3, 1995

Heading to Part V...........

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 11....................

rep No 3, 1995

s 11A...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11B...................

rep No 112, 1994

s 11C...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11D...................

rep No 112, 1994

s 11E...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11F...................

am No 112, 1994

rep No 3, 1995

s 11G...................

rep No 112, 1994

s 11H...................

rep No 112, 1994

s 11J....................

rep No 112, 1994

s 11K...................

rep No 112, 1994

s 11L...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11M...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11N...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11P...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11Q...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

s 11R...................

ad No 70, 1990

rep No 3, 1995

Heading to Part VI..........

rs No 53, 1964

rep No 3, 1995

s 12....................

rep No 3, 1995