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Evidence Act 2011
79Exception—opinions based on specialised knowledge
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79 Exception—opinions based on specialised knowledge
(1) If a person has specialised knowledge based on the person’s training,
study or experience, the opinion rule does not apply to evidence of
the person’s opinion that is completely or substantially based on that
knowledge.
(2) To remove any doubt, and without limiting subsection (1)—
(a) a reference in that subsection to specialised knowledge includes
a reference to specialised knowledge of child development and
child behaviour (including specialised knowledge of the impact
of sexual abuse on children and their development and
behaviour during and following the abuse); and
(b) a reference in that subsection to an opinion of a person includes,
if the person has specialised knowledge mentioned in paragraph
(a), a reference to an opinion relating to either or both of the
(i) the development and behaviour of children generally;
(ii) the development and behaviour of children who have been
victims of sexual offences, or offences similar to sexual
offences.