South Australian Current Acts

EVIDENCE ACT 1929 - SECT 66

66—Taking of affidavits out of the State

        (1)         Any oath or affidavit required for the purpose of any court or matter in the State may be taken or made, in any place out of the State, before—

            (a)         a commissioner for taking affidavits in the Supreme Court empowered and authorised to act in that place; or

            (b)         a British diplomatic or consular agent exercising his function in that place; or

            (ba)         any person appointed to hold or act in any of the following offices of the Commonwealth in that place:

                  (i)         ambassador;

                  (ii)         high commissioner;

                  (iii)         minister;

                  (iv)         head of mission;

                  (v)         commissioner;

                  (vi)         charge d'affaires;

                  (vii)         counsellor or secretary at an embassy, high commissioner's office, legation or other post;

                  (viii)         consul-general;

                  (ix)         consul;

                  (x)         vice-consul;

                  (xi)         trade commissioner;

                  (xii)         consular agent; or

            (bb)         an employee of the Commonwealth, or the Australian Trade Commission, authorised under section 3 of the Consular Fees Act 1955 (Commonwealth) and exercising his or her function in that place; or

            (c)         any person having authority to administer an oath in that place.

        (2)         Judicial and official notice may be taken—

            (a)         of the signature or seal of any such commissioner or agent or of any person appointed as aforesaid, or of any person having authority as aforesaid if he purports to have such authority, otherwise than by the law of a foreign country not under the dominion of His Majesty; and

            (b)         of the fact that any particular place is under the dominion of His Majesty.

        (3)         In the case of a person purporting to have such authority by the law of a foreign country not under the dominion of His Majesty, such authority may be verified by any of the persons mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (ba) of subsection (1) hereof, or by the certificate of the superior court of such place, and if such authority purports to be so verified the oath or affidavit may be admitted or received without further proof of the signature or seal, or of the judicial, official, or other character of such first mentioned person.

        (4)         In this section—

"oath" includes affirmation and declaration;

"affidavit" includes any statutory or other declaration, acknowledgment, or examination;

"diplomatic agent" means ambassador, envoy, minister, charge d'affaires, or secretary of embassy or legation;

"consular agent" means consul-general, consul, vice-consul, or consular agent, or acting consul-general, acting consul, acting vice-consul, or acting consular agent.