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Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
66Exception – criminal proceedings if maker available
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66 Exception – criminal proceedings if maker available
(1) This section applies in a criminal proceeding if a person who made
a previous representation is available to give evidence about an
(2) If that person has been or is to be called to give evidence, the
hearsay rule does not apply to evidence of the representation that
is given by:
(a) that person; or
(b) a person who saw, heard or otherwise perceived the
representation being made;
if, when the representation was made, the occurrence of the
asserted fact was fresh in the memory of the person who made the
representation.
(2A) In determining whether the occurrence of the asserted fact was
fresh in the memory of a person, the court may take into account all
matters that it considers are relevant to the question, including:
(a) the nature of the event concerned; and
(b) the age and health of the person; and
(c) the period of time between the occurrence of the asserted fact
and the making of the representation.
Note for subsection (2A)
Subsection (2A) is inserted as a response to the decision of the High Court of
Australia in Graham v The Queen (1998) 195 CLR 606.
(3) If a representation was made for the purpose of indicating the
evidence that the person who made it would be able to give in an
Australian or overseas proceeding, subsection (2) does not apply to
Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 38
evidence adduced by the prosecutor of the representation unless
the representation concerns the identity of a person, place or thing.
(4) A document containing a representation to which subsection (2)
applies must not be tendered before the conclusion of the
examination in chief of the person who made the representation,
Note for section 66