11Construction of references to bringing person before court

11 Construction of references to bringing person before court A reference in any Act or in any subordinate instrument within the meaning of the **Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984** to a person appearing before, or being brought before, a court includes a reference to a person appearing before, or being brought to a place where facilities exist to enable a person to appear before, the court by audio or audio visual link within the meaning of Part IIA of the **Evidence Act 1958** in accordance with Division 2 or 3 of that Part. 12 Transitional provisions (1) An amendment made by a provision of this Act to the **Evidence Act 1958**, the **Supreme Court Act 1986**, the **County Court Act 1958**, the **Magistrates' Court Act 1989** or the **Children and Young Persons Act 1989** applies to a proceeding that is commenced to be heard on or after the twenty-first day after the commencement of that amendment, irrespective of when the proceeding was commenced or when any offence to which the proceeding relates is alleged to have been committed. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) in its application to criminal proceedings— (a) a trial is commenced to be heard on arraignment of the accused person; and (b) a hearing of a charge for an offence is commenced to be heard on the taking of a formal plea from the accused person. [↑](#endnote-ref-3) 3. Pt 1 Div. 8: Section 9 of the **Evidence (Amendment) Act 1990**, No. 57/1990 reads as follows: