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Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991
42Definitions—pt 4.2
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42 Definitions—pt 4.2
child, in a proceeding, means a witness (including a complainant or
similar act witness) who was a child—
(a) at the time the proceeding started; or
(b) if the witness gives evidence in an audiovisual recording—at the
time the recording was made; or
(c) for a complainant in a sexual offence proceeding—at the time of
the offence the subject of the proceeding.
complainant, in relation to a proceeding for an offence—
(a) means a person—
(i) against whom the offence is alleged, or has been found, to
be committed; and
(ii) for a family violence offence proceeding—who is also a
family member of the accused person; and
(b) for a sexual offence proceeding for an offence against the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011—includes a person against whom a
sexual assault or an act of a sexually offensive, intimidating or
humiliating nature is suspected or alleged, or has been found, to
have been committed.
family member—see the Family Violence Act 2016, section 9.
intellectually impaired—a person is intellectually impaired if the
person has—
(a) an appreciably below average general intellectual function; or
(b) a cognitive impairment (including dementia or autism) arising
from an acquired brain injury, neurological disorder or a
developmental disorder; or
(c) any other intellectual disability.
similar act witness means a witness in a proceeding for an offence
who gives, or intends to give, evidence in the proceeding that—
(a) relates to an act committed on, or in the presence of, the witness
by the accused; and
(b) is tendency evidence or coincidence evidence under the
Evidence Act 2011.
special relationship witness means—
(a) in a sexual offence proceeding involving a child complainant—
a witness who—
(i) is a close family member of the complainant; or
(ii) the court considers—
(A) has a beneficial supporting relationship with the
complainant in the proceeding; and
(B) will be able to provide emotional support for the
complainant after the proceeding; or
(b) in a serious violent offence proceeding involving the death of a
person—a witness who is a close friend or family member of the
person.
vulnerable adult means an adult complainant, or similar act witness,
in a proceeding for an offence who the court considers—
(a) has a vulnerability that is likely to affect the complainant’s or
witness’s ability to give evidence because of the circumstances
of the proceeding or the complainant’s or witness’s
circumstances; or
(b) is likely to suffer severe emotional trauma, or be intimidated or
distressed, by giving evidence in the proceeding otherwise than
in accordance with this part; or
(c) needs to give evidence as soon as practicable because the
complainant or witness is likely to suffer severe emotional
trauma, or be intimidated or distressed.
witness with disability means a witness in a proceeding for an offence
who has a mental or physical disability that affects the person’s ability
to give evidence.