Evidence Bill 2025
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 2 Interpretation
s. 3
page 6
credibility rule means the rule of evidence provided for by1
section 120;2
criminal or identified organisation means —3
(a) a criminal organisation as defined in The Criminal Code4
section 221D(1); or5
(b) an organisation named in the Criminal Law (Unlawful6
Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 20217
Schedule 2;8
criminal or identified organisation offence means an offence9
alleged to have been committed —10
(a) by a person who, at the time of the commission of the11
alleged offence, is alleged to have been a member of a12
criminal or identified organisation; or13
(b) at the direction of a criminal or identified organisation;14
or15
(c) in association with 1 or more members of a criminal or16
identified organisation (whether or not those members17
are or have been charged with, or convicted of, the18
offence); or19
(d) for the benefit of a criminal or identified organisation;20
criminal proceeding —21
(a) means a prosecution for an offence, other than a22
prescribed taxation offence as defined in the Taxation23
Administration Act 1953 (Commonwealth) section 8A;24
and25
(b) includes the following stages of a prosecution —26
(i) a proceeding for the committal of a person for27
trial or sentence for the offence;28
(ii) a proceeding relating to bail;29
cross-examination has the meaning given in section 5(2);30
cross-examiner means a party who is cross-examining a31
witness;32
Evidence Bill 2025
Preliminary Part 1
Interpretation Division 2
s. 3
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disability includes the following —1
(a) mental impairment;2
(b) a developmental disorder;3
(c) a neurological disorder;4
(d) a physical disability;5
document has the meaning given in section 6(1) and (2);6
electronic communication has the meaning given in the7
Electronic Transactions Act 2011 section 5(1);8
examination in chief has the meaning given in section 5(1);9
external Territory has the meaning given in the Acts10
Interpretation Act 1901 (Commonwealth) section 2B;11
family violence has the meaning given in the Restraining12
Orders Act 1997 section 5A;13
family violence offence means an offence that involves family14
violence or the threat of, or attempted, family violence;15
foreign court means any court (including any person or body16
authorised to take or receive evidence, whether on behalf of a17
court or otherwise and whether or not the person or body has18
power to require the answering of questions or the production of19
documents) of a foreign country or a part of a foreign country;20
government or official gazette includes the Gazette;21
government or official website includes the WA legislation22
website;23
ground rules hearing has the meaning given in section 295(1);24
harm includes actual physical bodily harm, financial loss, stress25
or shock, damage to reputation or emotional or psychological26
harm (such as shame, humiliation and fear);27
hearsay rule means the rule of evidence provided for by28
section 72(1);29
identification evidence has the meaning given in section 133;30
Evidence Bill 2025
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 2 Interpretation
s. 3
page 8
investigating official means —1
(a) a police officer (other than a police officer who is2
engaged in covert investigations under the orders of a3
superior); or4
(b) a person appointed by or under an Australian law (other5
than a person who is engaged in covert investigations6
under the orders of a superior) whose functions include7
functions in respect of the prevention or investigation of8
offences;9
judge, in relation to a proceeding, means the judge, magistrate10
or other person before whom the proceeding is being held;11
law, of the State, the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory12
or a foreign country, has the meaning given in section 10;13
leading question means a question asked of a witness that —14
(a) directly or indirectly suggests a particular answer to the15
question; or16
(b) assumes the existence of a fact the existence of which is17
in dispute in the proceeding and as to the existence of18
which the witness has not given evidence before the19
question is asked;20
legal counsel means —21
(a) a legal practitioner; or22
(b) a lawyer employed in or by a government agency or23
other body who by law is exempted from holding an24
Australian practising certificate (as defined in the Legal25
Profession Uniform Law (WA) section 6(1)), or who26
does not require an Australian practising certificate, to27
engage in legal practice in the course of that28
employment;29
mental impairment has the meaning given in the Criminal Law30
(Mental Impairment) Act 2023 section 9(1);31
Evidence Bill 2025
Preliminary Part 1
Interpretation Division 2
s. 3
page 9
minister of religion —1
(a) means a person who is recognised in accordance with2
the practices of a faith or religion as a person who is3
authorised to conduct services or ceremonies in4
accordance with the tenets of the faith or religion; and5
(b) includes such a person regardless of how the person’s6
position or title is described (for example, member of7
the clergy, priest, minister, imam, rabbi or pastor);8
offence —9
(a) means an offence against or arising under an Australian10
law; and11
(b) includes an alleged offence;12
offspring, of a person, has the meaning given in section 13(1);13
opinion rule means the rule of evidence provided for by14
section 90(1);15
parent, of a person, has a meaning affected by section 13;16
party, in a criminal proceeding, includes an accused;17
person acting judicially —18
(a) means any person or body having, in this State, by law19
or by consent of the parties, authority to hear, receive20
and examine evidence; but21
(b) does not include —22
(i) the State Administrative Tribunal or a member of23
the State Administrative Tribunal exercising the24
jurisdiction of the Tribunal; or25
(ii) a member of a House of Parliament or a26
committee of a House, or both Houses, of27
Parliament who, by law, has authority to hear,28
receive and examine evidence;29
police officer means —30
(a) a member or special member of the Australian Federal31
Police; or32
Evidence Bill 2025
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 2 Interpretation
s. 3
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(b) a member of the police force of a State or Territory;1
previous representation means a representation made otherwise2
than in the course of giving evidence in the proceeding in which3
evidence of the representation is sought to be adduced;4
prior consistent statement, of a witness, means a previous5
representation of the witness that is consistent with evidence6
given by the witness;7
prior inconsistent statement, of a witness, means a previous8
representation of the witness that is inconsistent with evidence9
given by the witness;10
probative value, of evidence, means the extent to which the11
evidence could rationally affect the assessment of the12
probability of the existence of a fact in issue;13
proceeding includes a proceeding that —14
(a) relates to bail; or15
(b) is an interlocutory proceeding or proceeding of a similar16
kind; or17
(c) is heard in chambers; or18
(d) relates to sentencing;19
prosecutor means a person who institutes or is responsible for20
the conduct of a prosecution;21
protected communication has the meaning given in22
section 165(1);23
public document has the meaning given in section 6(3) and (4);24
publish means to disseminate to the public or a section of the25
public by any means, including the following —26
(a) in a newspaper or periodical publication;27
(b) by radio broadcast, television, a website, an online28
facility or other electronic means;29
re-examination has the meaning given in section 5(3);30
related proceeding, in relation to another proceeding, means —31
(a) a retrial or rehearing of the other proceeding; or32
Evidence Bill 2025
Preliminary Part 1
Interpretation Division 2
s. 3
page 11
(b) a proceeding by way of appeal from, or judicial review1
of, a decision made or penalty imposed in the other2
proceeding;3
representation includes the following —4
(a) an express or implied representation (whether oral or in5
writing);6
(b) a representation to be inferred from conduct;7
(c) a representation not intended by its maker to be8
communicated to or seen by another person;9
(d) a representation that for any reason is not10
communicated;11
screening procedure means a procedure that involves the use of12
a screen, one-way glass or other device in relation to a witness13
while the witness gives evidence in a proceeding so that —14
(a) the witness cannot see a party to the proceeding; and15
(b) the witness can be seen by the judge, the jury (if any),16
each party to the proceeding and each party’s legal17
counsel (if any);18
seal includes a stamp;19
sexual abuse includes any misconduct of a sexual nature;20
sexual offence means the following —21
(a) an offence under The Criminal Code Chapter XXXI;22
(b) an offence of a sexual nature under The Criminal Code23
Chapter XXII, XXV, XXVA or XXXIIIB;24
(c) an offence under a provision of The Criminal Code or25
another written law that has been repealed, if the acts or26
omissions that constituted the offence under the repealed27
provision would constitute an offence referred to in28
paragraph (a) or (b);29
Evidence Bill 2025
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 2 Interpretation
s. 3
page 12
(d) any other offence of a sexual nature —1
(i) including an offence under The Criminal Code2
section 306 or the Children and Community3
Services Act 2004 section 192; but4
(ii) not including conduct of a person that has ceased5
to be an offence against, or arising under, a law6
of this State since the time when the person7
engaged in the conduct;8
(e) an offence of attempting to commit, conspiring with9
another person to commit, inciting another person to10
commit or attempting to procure another person to11
commit, an offence referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c)12
or (d);13
sexual offence complainant means a complainant in relation to14
a sexual offence;15
special witness has the meaning given in section 228(1);16
superior court means the Supreme Court, the District Court or17
the Family Court, except when exercising federal jurisdiction;18
tendency evidence means evidence of a kind referred to in19
section 113(1) that a party seeks to have adduced for the20
purpose referred to in that subsection;21
tendency rule means the rule of evidence provided for by22
section 113(1);23
traditional laws and customs, of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait24
Islander group (including a kinship group), includes any of the25
traditions, customary laws, customs, observances, practices,26
knowledge and beliefs of the group;27
tribunal, of a State or Territory, means a person or body28
authorised by or under a law of the State or Territory to take29
evidence on oath or affirmation;30
video link means facilities (including closed-circuit television)31
that enable, at the same time, a court at a place to see and hear a32
person at another place and vice versa;33
Evidence Bill 2025
Preliminary Part 1
Interpretation Division 2
s. 3
page 13
video link separation procedure means a procedure for giving1
evidence under which —2
(a) a witness gives evidence at a separate place to the3
courtroom, while the evidence is transmitted to the4
courtroom by means of a video link; or5
(b) a party is required to remain in a separate place to the6
courtroom while a witness gives evidence in the7
courtroom and the evidence of the witness is transmitted8
by means of video link to the place in which the party9
remains while the evidence is given;10
WA tribunal —11
(a) means a tribunal established in this State under a written12
law; but13
(b) does not include the State Administrative Tribunal;14
witness includes —15
(a) a party giving evidence; and16
(b) a person who is to give evidence as a witness in a17
proceeding.18
(2) A reference in this Act to a witness who has been called by a19
party to give evidence includes a reference to the party giving20
evidence.21
(3) In this Act —22
(a) a reference to a person appointed or holding office under23
or because of a law of the State or another Australian24
law includes a reference to an employee as defined in25
the Public Sector Management Act 1994 section 3(1);26
and27
(b) a reference to a person appointed or holding office under28
or because of a law of the Commonwealth or another29
Australian law includes a reference to an APS employee30
as defined in the Public Service Act 199931
(Commonwealth) section 7; and32
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Part 1 Preliminary
Division 2 Interpretation
s. 4
page 14
(c) for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b), a reference to1
an office is a reference to the position occupied by the2
employee concerned.3
(4) Without limiting the effect of the Interpretation Act 19844
section 19, the material that may be considered in accordance5
with that section in the interpretation of a provision of this Act6
includes any relevant report of a Law Reform Commission laid7
before either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth8
before the provision was enacted.9
Note for this section:10
The Evidence Act 1995 (Commonwealth) sets out a law of evidence11
that is the basis for similar (but not identical) Acts that have been12
enacted in some States and Territories. These Acts are referred to as13
the uniform evidence law. Parts of this Act are based on uniform14
evidence law provisions, as in force at 1 January 2025.15
Parts of this Act are based on provisions of the Evidence Act 1906,16
which is repealed by this Act.17
A note that compares a provision of this Act to a specified provision of18
the Evidence Act 1995 (Commonwealth), the Evidence Act 1995 (New19
South Wales) or the Evidence Act 1906 indicates that the provision of20
this Act is based (in whole or in part, and with possible modifications)21
on the specified provision.22
Compare:23
Evidence Act 1906 s. 3, 109 and 12024
Evidence Act 1995 (Commonwealth) Dictionary25
4. References to business26
(1) A reference in this Act to a business includes a reference to the27
following —28
(a) a profession, calling, occupation, trade or undertaking;29
(b) an activity engaged in or carried on by the30
Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;31
(c) an activity engaged in or carried on by the government32
of a foreign country;33
(d) an activity engaged in or carried on by a person or body34
holding office or exercising power under or because of35
Evidence Bill 2025
Preliminary Part 1
Interpretation Division 2
s. 5
page 15
the Commonwealth Constitution, an Australian law or a1
law of a foreign country, being an activity engaged in or2
carried on in the performance of the functions of the3
office or in the exercise of the power (otherwise than in4
a private capacity);5
(e) the proceedings of an Australian Parliament, a House of6
an Australian Parliament, a committee of a House of an7
Australian Parliament or a committee of an Australian8
Parliament;9
(f) the proceedings of a legislature of a foreign country,10
including a House or committee (however described) of11
a legislature of a foreign country.12
(2) A reference in this Act to a business also includes a reference to13
each of the following —14
(a) a business that is not engaged in or carried on for profit;15
(b) a business engaged in or carried on outside Australia.16
Compare:17
Evidence Act 1995 (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 118
5. Examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination19
(1) The examination in chief of a witness is the questioning of a20
witness by the party who called the witness to give evidence,21
not being questioning that is re-examination.22
(2) The cross-examination of a witness is the questioning of a23
witness by a party other than the party who called the witness to24
give evidence.25
(3) The re-examination of a witness is the questioning of a witness26
by the party who called the witness to give evidence, being27
questioning (other than further examination in chief with the28
leave of the court) conducted after the cross-examination of the29
witness by another party.30
(4) If a party recalls a witness who has already given evidence, the31
questioning of the witness by that party before the witness is32
Evidence Bill 2025
Part 1 Preliminary
Division 2 Interpretation
s. 6
page 16
questioned by another party is taken to be part of the1
examination in chief and not a re-examination of the witness.2
Compare:3
Evidence Act 1995 (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 24
6. References to documents5
(1) A document is any record of information and includes the6
following —7
(a) anything on which there is writing;8
(b) anything on which there are marks, figures, symbols or9
perforations having a meaning for persons qualified to10
interpret them;11
(c) anything from which sounds, images or writings can be12
reproduced with or without the aid of anything else;13
(d) a map, plan, drawing or photograph.14
(2) A document also includes the following —15
(a) any part of the document;16
(b) any copy, reproduction or duplicate of the document or17
of any part of the document;18
(c) any part of a copy, reproduction or duplicate of a19
document.20
(3) A public document is a document that —21
(a) forms part of the records of the Commonwealth, a State22
or a Territory; or23
(b) forms part of the records of the government of a foreign24
country; or25
(c) forms part of the records of a person or body holding26
office or exercising a function under or because of the27
Commonwealth Constitution, an Australian law or a law28
of a foreign country; or29