Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FOREIGN EVIDENCE ACT 1994 - NOTES

No. 59, 1994

Compilation No. 21

Compilation date: 14 September 2023

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 63, 2023

Registered: 16 September 2023

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Foreign Evidence Act 1994 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 September 2023 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Self-repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part 1--Preliminary

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Definitions

4 References to evidence taken in an examination

5 External Territories

6 Act to bind Crown

Part 2--Examination of witnesses abroad

Division 1--Proceedings in superior courts

7 Orders for taking evidence abroad

8 Directions and requests relating to orders

9 Use of evidence taken in an examination

Division 2--Proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) and inferior courts

9A Orders for taking evidence abroad--Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)

10 Orders for taking evidence abroad--inferior courts

11 Orders for taking evidence abroad--family law matters

12 Use of evidence taken in an examination

Division 3--Subsequent proceedings

13 Directions for use in subsequent proceedings of evidence taken abroad

14 Use of that evidence in subsequent proceedings

Division 4--Miscellaneous

15 Discretion to exclude evidence

16 Variation or revocation of orders

17 Courts may exercise certain powers in chambers

18 Operation of other laws

19 Rules of court

Part 3--Use of foreign material in criminal and related civil proceedings

Division 1--Preliminary

20 Proceedings to which this Part applies

Division 2--Obtaining foreign material

21 Requests for foreign material

22 Requirements for testimony

23 Form of testimony

Division 3--Using foreign material

24 Foreign material may be adduced as evidence

25 Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced--general

Division 4--Miscellaneous

26 Evidentiary certificates relating to requests made to foreign countries

27 Operation of other laws

Part 3A--Use of foreign material and foreign government material in terrorism-related proceedings

27A Foreign material may be adduced as evidence

27AA Evidentiary certificates relating to requests made to foreign countries

27B Foreign government material may be adduced as evidence

27C Discretion to prevent material being adduced

27D Admissibility of material adduced

27DA Warning and informing jury

27E Operation of other laws

Part 4--Use of foreign material and records of foreign business authorities in certain civil proceedings

Division 1--Preliminary

28 Proceedings to which this Part applies

Division 2--Obtaining foreign material

29 Requests for foreign material

30 Requirements for testimony

31 Form of testimony

Division 3--Using foreign material

32 Foreign material may be adduced as evidence

33 Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced

Division 4--Records of foreign business authorities

34 Evidence of records of foreign business authorities

Division 5--Miscellaneous

35 Evidentiary certificates relating to requests made to foreign business authorities

36 Operation of other laws

Part 5--Authenticating foreign public documents

37 Certificates attached to foreign public documents

38 Foreign public documents not requiring legalisation

39 Lesser formalities for authentication etc.

Part 6--Taking evidence for proceedings in foreign courts

40 Application of this Part

41 Exercise of powers under this Part

42 Orders

43 Copies etc. of documents

44 Intervention

45 Injunctions

Part 7--Miscellaneous

46 Regulations

Schedule--Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Endnotes

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1--About the endnotes

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

Endnote 3--Legislation history

Endnote 4--Amendment history

Abbreviation key--Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section  15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2--Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub-subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev ... ) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3--Legislation history

 

Act	Number and year	Assent	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Foreign Evidence Act 1994	59, 1994	9 Apr 1994	Pt 3 (s 20-27): 9 Oct 1994 (s 2(2), (3)) Pt 5 (s 37-39): 16 Mar 1995 (s 2(4), (5) and gaz 1995, No GN8) Remainder: 9 Apr 1994 (s 2(1))
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Sch 1 (item 491): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2) and gaz 1999, No S584)	--
Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999	194, 1999	23 Dec 1999	Sch 14: 23 Dec 1999 (s 2(1))	--
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	s 4-14 and Sch 3 (items 201-205): 15 July 2001 (s 2(1), (3) and gaz 2001, No S285)	s 4-14
Proceeds of Crime (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2002	86, 2002	11 Oct 2002	Sch 6 (item 32): 1 Jan 2003 (s 2(1) item 5 and gaz 2002, No GN44)	--
Crimes Legislation Enhancement Act 2003	41, 2003	3 June 2003	Sch 2 (item 7): 3 June 2003 (s 2(1) item 8)	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Video Link Evidence and Other Measures) Act 2005	136, 2005	15 Nov 2005	Sch 1 (items 22-25): 16 Nov 2005 (s 2)	--
ASIO Legislation Amendment Act 2006	54, 2006	19 June 2006	Sch 1 (item 15): 20 June 2006 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Marking of Plastic Explosives) Act 2007	3, 2007	19 Feb 2007	Sch 3 (item 5): 25 Aug 2007 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Foreign Evidence Amendment Act 2010	55, 2010	3 June 2010	4 June 2010 (s 2)	Sch 1 (items 15, 16, 18, 19)
Crimes Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2011	174, 2011	5 Dec 2011	Sch 2 (items 195-197): 1 Jan 2012 (s 2(1) item 5)	Sch 2 (item 197)
Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013	13, 2013	14 Mar 2013	Sch 1 (items 315-317) and Sch 2 (item 2): 12 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) items  2, 3)	--
Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Act 2014	116, 2014	3 Nov 2014	Sch 1 (items 115-126): 1 Dec 2014 (s 2(1) item 2)	Sch 1 (item 126)
Crimes Legislation Amendment (International Crime Cooperation and Other Measures) Act 2018	34, 2018	22 May 2018	Sch 4: 22 Nov 2018 (s 2(1) item 7)	Sch 4 (item 6)
Treasury Laws Amendment (ASIC Governance) Act 2018	42, 2018	22 May 2018	Sch 1 (item 10): 5 June 2018 (s 2(1) item 1)	--
National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018	67, 2018	29 June 2018	Sch 1 (items 44, 45): 30 June 2018 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Act 2020	134, 2020	17 Dec 2020	Sch 1 (items 23, 24): 7 Sept 2020 (s 2(1) item 2)	--
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021	13, 2021	1 Mar 2021	Sch 2 (items 430-439): 1 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 5)	--
Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Act 2023	63, 2023	13 Sept 2023	Sch 5: 14 Sept 2023 (s 2(1) item 6)	--

Endnote 4--Amendment history

 

Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
s 3.....................	am No 55, 2001; No 86, 2002; No 136, 2005; No 54, 2006; No 3, 2007; No  55, 2010; No 116, 2014; No 67, 2018; No 134, 2020; No 13, 2021; No 63, 2023
Part 2
Division 2
Division 2 heading..........	rs No 194, 1999; No 13, 2013
	am No 13, 2021
s 9A....................	ad No 194, 1999
	am No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021
s 10....................	am No 194, 1999
s 11....................	am No 13, 2021
s 12....................	am No 194, 1999; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021
Division 4
s 15....................	am No 194, 1999; No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021
s 16....................	am No 194, 1999
s 17....................	am No 194, 1999
Part 3
Division 1
s 20....................	am No 136, 2005; No 55, 2010; No 116, 2014; No 34, 2018; No 63, 2023
Division 2
s 21....................	am No 63, 2023
s 22....................	am No 41, 2003; No 55, 2010; No 63, 2023
s 23....................	am No 55, 2010
Division 3
s 24....................	am No 55, 2010
s 25....................	am No 136, 2005; No 116, 2014
s 25A...................	ad No 136, 2005
	am No 174, 2011
	rep No 116, 2014
Division 4
s 26....................	am No 146, 1999; No 55, 2010
	rs No 34, 2018
Part 3A
Part 3A..................	ad No 116, 2014
s 27A...................	ad No 116, 2014
s 27AA..................	ad No 34, 2018
s 27B...................	ad No 116, 2014
s 27C...................	ad No 116, 2014
s 27D...................	ad No 116, 2014
s 27DA..................	ad No 116, 2014
s 27E...................	ad No 116, 2014
Part 4
Division 1
s 28....................	am No 55, 2001
Division 2
s 29....................	am No 55, 2001; No 63, 2023
Division 5
s 35....................	am No 55, 2001; No 42, 2018
	rs No 34, 2018
Part 7
s 46....................	am No 194, 1999