158Evidence of certain public documents

158 Evidence of certain public documents

(1) If: (a) a public document, or a certified copy of a public document, of a State or Territory is admissible for a purpose in that State or Territory under the law of that State or Territory; and (b) it purports to be sealed, or signed and sealed, or signed alone, as directed by the law of that State or Territory; it is admissible in evidence to the same extent and for that purpose in all courts: (c) without proof of: (i) the seal or signature; or (ii) the official character of the person appearing to have signed it; and (d) without further proof in every case in which the original document could have been received in evidence. (2) A public document of a State or Territory that is admissible in evidence for any purpose in that State or Territory under the law of that State or Territory without proof of: (a) the seal or signature authenticating the document; or (b) the judicial or official character of the person appearing to have signed the document; is admissible in evidence to the same extent and for any purpose in all courts without such proof. (3) This section only applies to documents that are public records of a State or Territory.

Note 2: Section 5 extends the operation of this provision to proceedings in all Australian courts.