Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2012C00022
Timestamp: 2019-10-22 14:16:09
Document Index: 217032465

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 2', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 5', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3']

Details: C2012C00022
- C2012C00022
Act No. 59 of 1994 as amended, taking into account amendments up to Crimes Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2011
An Act about certain evidentiary matters involving overseas jurisdictions
Crimes Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2011 - C2011A00174
Sch 2 (items 195, 196)
C2012C00022
4 References to evidence taken in an examination
Part 2—Examination of witnesses abroad
Part 3—Use of foreign material in criminal and related civil proceedings
Part 4—Use of foreign material and records of foreign business authorities in certain civil proceedings
Part 5—Authenticating foreign public documents
Part 6—Taking evidence for proceedings in foreign courts
Schedule—Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents
Act No. 59 of 1994 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 1 January 2012
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 174 of 2011
4............ References to evidence taken in an examination.................................. 5
5............ External Territories.............................................................................. 5
6............ Act to bind Crown.............................................................................. 5
Part 2—Examination of witnesses abroad 6
Division 1—Proceedings in superior courts 6
7............ Orders for taking evidence abroad...................................................... 6
8............ Directions and requests relating to orders........................................... 6
9............ Use of evidence taken in an examination............................................. 7
Division 2—Proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court and inferior courts 8
9A......... Orders for taking evidence abroad—Federal Magistrates Court......... 8
10.......... Orders for taking evidence abroad—inferior courts............................ 8
11.......... Orders for taking evidence abroad—family law matters..................... 9
12.......... Use of evidence taken in an examination............................................. 9
Division 3—Subsequent proceedings 11
13.......... Directions for use in subsequent proceedings of evidence taken abroad 11
14.......... Use of that evidence in subsequent proceedings............................... 11
Division 4—Miscellaneous 12
15.......... Discretion to exclude evidence.......................................................... 12
16.......... Variation or revocation of orders...................................................... 12
17.......... Courts may exercise certain powers in chambers.............................. 12
18.......... Operation of other laws..................................................................... 13
19.......... Rules of court.................................................................................... 13
Part 3—Use of foreign material in criminal and related civil proceedings 14
20.......... Proceedings to which this Part applies.............................................. 14
Division 2—Obtaining foreign material 15
21.......... Requests for foreign material............................................................ 15
22.......... Requirements for testimony.............................................................. 15
23.......... Form of testimony............................................................................. 15
Division 3—Using foreign material 16
24.......... Foreign material may be adduced as evidence................................... 16
25.......... Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced—general........ 16
25A....... Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced—proceedings for designated offences 17
Division 4—Miscellaneous 19
26.......... Certificates relating to requests made to foreign countries................. 19
27.......... Operation of other laws..................................................................... 19
Part 4—Use of foreign material and records of foreign business authorities in certain civil proceedings 20
Division 1—Preliminary 20
28.......... Proceedings to which this Part applies.............................................. 20
Division 2—Obtaining foreign material 21
29.......... Requests for foreign material............................................................ 21
30.......... Requirements for testimony.............................................................. 21
31.......... Form of testimony............................................................................. 21
Division 3—Using foreign material 22
32.......... Foreign material may be adduced as evidence................................... 22
33.......... Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced........................ 22
Division 4—Records of foreign business authorities 23
34.......... Evidence of records of foreign business authorities.......................... 23
Division 5—Miscellaneous 24
35.......... Certificates relating to foreign material.............................................. 24
36.......... Operation of other laws..................................................................... 24
Part 5—Authenticating foreign public documents 25
37.......... Certificates attached to foreign public documents.............................. 25
38.......... Foreign public documents not requiring legalisation......................... 25
39.......... Lesser formalities for authentication etc............................................ 26
Part 6—Taking evidence for proceedings in foreign courts 27
40.......... Application of this Part..................................................................... 27
41.......... Exercise of powers under this Part.................................................... 27
42.......... Orders............................................................................................... 27
43.......... Copies etc. of documents.................................................................. 28
44.......... Intervention....................................................................................... 28
45.......... Injunctions........................................................................................ 28
Part 7—Miscellaneous 30
46.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 30
Schedule—Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents 31
This Act may be cited as the Foreign Evidence Act 1994.
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), Part 3 commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
(3) If Part 3 does not commence under subsection (2) within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, it commences on the first day after the end of that period.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), Part 5 commences on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
(5) The day fixed under subsection (4) must not be a day occurring before the Convention enters into force for Australia.
Australian court means:
(b) a court exercising federal jurisdiction; or
(c) a court of a State or Territory; or
(d) a judge, justice or arbitrator under an Australian law; or
(e) a person or body authorised by an Australian law, or by consent of parties, to hear, receive and examine evidence;
and, for the purposes of Part 6, includes a person or body authorised to take or receive evidence, whether on behalf of a court or otherwise and whether or not the person or body is empowered to require the answering of questions or the production of documents.
Australian law means a law (whether written or unwritten) of or in force in the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.
business has a meaning affected by clause 1 of Part 2 of the Dictionary in the Evidence Act 1995.
business record means a document that:
(a) is or forms part of the records belonging to or kept by a person, body or organisation in the course of, or for the purposes of, a business; or
(b) at any time was or formed part of such a record.
Convention means the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule.
criminal proceeding means a prosecution for an offence and includes a proceeding for the committal of a person for trial or sentence for an offence, but does not include a prosecution for an offence that is a prescribed taxation offence within the meaning of Part III of the Taxation Administration Act 1953.
designated offence means:
(a) an offence against subsection 34L(4) of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979; or
(b) an offence against section 49 of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004; or
(c) an offence against section 21 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945; or
(d) an offence against Subdivision A of Division 72 of the Criminal Code; or
(e) an offence against Part 5.3 of the Criminal Code; or
(f) an offence against Part 5.4 of the Criminal Code; or
(g) an offence against section 24AA or 24AB of the Crimes Act 1914; or
(h) an offence against Division 1 of Part 2 of the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991; or
(i) an offence against section 8 of the Crimes (Biological Weapons) Act 1976; or
(j) an offence against the Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978; or
(k) an offence against section 8 of the Crimes (Hostages) Act 1989; or
(l) an offence against the Crimes (Internationally Protected Persons) Act 1976; or
(m) an offence against section 6 of the Crimes Act 1914 that relates to an offence mentioned in any of the above paragraphs.
Note: For other ancillary offences, see section 11.6 of the Criminal Code.
examination includes any proceeding that is for the taking of evidence of a person conducted by the judicial authorities of a foreign country in relation to a letter of request issued as a result of an order made by a superior court under Part 2.
foreign business authority means a person or body that has, under a law of a foreign country, functions relating to the administration or enforcement of a law of that country that regulates, or relates to the regulation of, business or persons engaged in business.
foreign law means a law (whether written or unwritten) of or in force in a foreign country.
(a) for the purposes of Part 3—the testimony of a person that:
(i) was obtained as a result of a request of a kind referred to in section 21; and
(ii) complies with the requirements of section 22;
including any exhibit annexed to such testimony; and
(b) for the purposes of Part 4—the testimony of a person that:
(i) was obtained as a result of a request of a kind referred to in section 29; and
(ii) complies with the requirements of section 30;
including any exhibit annexed to such testimony.
foreign public document means a document to which Article 1 of the Convention applies, other than a document executed in a foreign country (if any) that has objected to Australia’s accession to the Convention.
inferior court means any of the following courts (other than a superior court):
(a) a court of a State when exercising federal jurisdiction;
(b) subject to subsection (2), a court of a Territory (other than the Northern Territory);
(c) a court of the Northern Territory when exercising jurisdiction conferred or vested by an Act of the Parliament.
proceeds of crime law means the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or the Proceeds of Crime Act 1987.
related civil proceeding, in relation to a criminal proceeding, means any civil proceeding arising from the same subject matter from which the criminal proceeding arose, and, in particular, includes:
(a) a proceeding under a proceeds of crime law; or
(b) a proceeding under the Customs Act 1901; or
(c) a proceeding for the recovery of tax, or of any duty, levy or charge, payable to the Commonwealth.
(b) the Federal Court of Australia or the Family Court of Australia; or
(c) the Supreme Court of a State, or the Family Court of Western Australia, when exercising federal jurisdiction; or
(d) subject to subsection (2), the Supreme Court of a Territory (other than the Northern Territory); or
(e) the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory when exercising jurisdiction conferred or vested by an Act of the Parliament.
(2) On and after a day fixed by Proclamation:
(a) the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory ceases to be a superior court for the purposes of this Act except so far as it exercises jurisdiction conferred or vested by an Act of the Parliament; and
(b) any other court of the Australian Capital Territory ceases to be an inferior court for the purposes of this Act except so far as it exercises jurisdiction conferred or vested by an Act of the Parliament.
A reference in this Act to evidence taken in an examination includes a reference to:
(a) a document produced at the examination; and
(b) answers made to any written interrogatories presented at the examination, whether the answers are made in writing or are made orally and put in writing.
Division 1—Proceedings in superior courts
7 Orders for taking evidence abroad
(1) In any proceeding before a superior court, the court may, if it appears in the interests of justice to do so, on the application of a party to the proceeding, make an order, relating to a person outside Australia:
(a) for examination of the person on oath or affirmation at any place outside Australia before a judge of the court, an officer of the court or such other person as the court may appoint; or
(b) for issue of a commission for examination of the person on oath or affirmation at any place outside Australia; or
(c) for issue of a letter of request to the judicial authorities of a foreign country to take the evidence of the person or cause it to be taken.
(2) In deciding whether it is in the interests of justice to make such an order, the matters to which the court is to have regard include the following:
(a) whether the person is willing or able to come to Australia to give evidence in the proceeding;
(b) whether the person will be able to give evidence material to any issue to be tried in the proceeding;
(c) whether, having regard to the interests of the parties to the proceeding, justice will be better served by granting or refusing the order.
8 Directions and requests relating to orders
(1) If a court makes an order of the kind referred to in paragraph 7(1)(a) or (b), the court may, at the time of making the order or at a later time, give such directions as it thinks just relating to the procedure to be followed in relation to the examination, including directions about:
(a) the time, place and manner of the examination; and
(b) any other matter that the court thinks relevant.
(2) If a court makes an order of the kind referred to in paragraph 7(1)(c), the court may include in the order a request about any matter relating to taking that evidence, including any of the following matters:
(a) examination, cross‑examination or re‑examination of the person, whether the person’s evidence is given orally, on affidavit or otherwise;
(b) attendance of the legal representative of each party to the proceeding in question and participation of those persons in the examination in appropriate circumstances;
(c) any matter prescribed by the regulations.
9 Use of evidence taken in an examination
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the court may, on such terms (if any) as it thinks fit, permit a party to the proceeding to tender as evidence in the proceeding:
(a) a person’s evidence taken in an examination held as a result of an order under subsection 7(1); or
(b) a record of that evidence.
(2) Evidence of a person so tendered is not admissible if:
(a) it appears to the court’s satisfaction at the hearing of the proceeding that the person is in Australia and is able to attend the hearing; or
(b) the evidence would not have been admissible had it been adduced at the hearing.
Division 2—Proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court and inferior courts
9A Orders for taking evidence abroad—Federal Magistrates Court
(1) The Family Court of Australia may, on the application of a party to a proceeding before the Federal Magistrates Court in a child support or family law matter, exercise the same power to make an order of the kind referred to in Division 1 as the Family Court of Australia has under that Division for the purpose of a proceeding in the Family Court of Australia.
Matters other than child support or family law matters
(2) The Federal Court of Australia may, on the application of a party to a proceeding before the Federal Magistrates Court in a matter other than a child support or family law matter, exercise the same power to make an order of the kind referred to in Division 1 as the Federal Court of Australia has under that Division for the purpose of a proceeding in the Federal Court of Australia.
child support or family law matter means:
(a) a matter arising under the Family Law Act 1975 or regulations under that Act; or
(b) a matter arising under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 or regulations under that Act; or
(c) a matter arising under the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 or regulations under that Act.
10 Orders for taking evidence abroad—inferior courts
(1) The Supreme Court of a State or Territory may, on the application of a party to a proceeding before an inferior court in that State or Territory, exercise the same power to make an order of the kind referred to in Division 1 for the purpose of that proceeding as the Supreme Court has under that Division for the purpose of a proceeding in the Supreme Court.
(2) This section does not apply to a proceeding before a court of summary jurisdiction exercising jurisdiction under the Family Law Act 1975.
11 Orders for taking evidence abroad—family law matters
(1) The appropriate court may, on the application of a party to a proceeding before a court of summary jurisdiction exercising jurisdiction under the Family Law Act 1975, exercise the same power to make an order of the kind referred to in Division 1 for the purpose of that proceeding as the appropriate court has under that Division:
(a) if it is the Family Court of Australia—for the purpose of any proceeding before it; or
(b) otherwise—for the purpose of a proceeding before it when it is exercising jurisdiction under the Family Law Act 1975.
appropriate court means:
(a) if the proceeding takes place in a State other than Western Australia, or in a Territory other than the Northern Territory, the Territory of Christmas Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands—the Family Court of Australia; or
(b) if the proceeding takes place in Western Australia, the Territory of Christmas Island or the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands—the Family Court of Western Australia; or
(c) if the proceeding takes place in the Northern Territory—the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
12 Use of evidence taken in an examination
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if an order has been made under section 9A, 10 or 11 for the purposes of a proceeding before the Federal Magistrates Court or an inferior court, the court may, on such terms (if any) as it thinks fit, permit a party to the proceeding to tender as evidence in the proceeding:
(a) a person’s evidence taken in an examination held as a result of the order; or
(a) it appears to the Federal Magistrates Court’s satisfaction or the inferior court’s satisfaction, as the case may be, at the hearing of the proceeding that the person is in Australia and is able to attend the hearing; or
Division 3—Subsequent proceedings
13 Directions for use in subsequent proceedings of evidence taken abroad
(1) If, under subsection 10(1), a superior court makes an order in relation to a committal proceeding, it may include in the order a direction that evidence taken outside Australia under the order may, subject to this Division, be tendered in a proceeding that is:
(a) a criminal proceeding that results from the committal proceeding; or
(b) a related civil proceeding.
(2) If, under subsection 7(1) or 10(1), a superior court makes an order in relation to a criminal proceeding (other than a committal proceeding), it may include in the order a direction that evidence taken outside Australia under the order may, subject to this Division, be tendered in a proceeding that is a related civil proceeding.
14 Use of that evidence in subsequent proceedings
(1) This section applies to a proceeding to which a direction, included in an order under subsection 7(1) or 10(1), relates.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the court before which the proceeding takes place may, on such terms (if any) as it thinks fit, permit a party to the proceeding to tender as evidence in the proceeding:
(a) a person’s evidence taken in an examination held as a result of the order under subsection 7(1) or 10(1); or
(3) A person’s evidence so tendered is not admissible if:
(a) it appears to the court’s satisfaction at the hearing of the subsequent proceeding that the person is in Australia and is able to attend the hearing; or
(b) the evidence would not have been admissible had it been adduced at the hearing of the subsequent proceeding.
15 Discretion to exclude evidence
(1) This section applies to any civil proceeding or criminal proceeding in a superior court, the Federal Magistrates Court or an inferior court.
(2) If it is in the interests of justice to do so, a court may exclude from the proceeding evidence obtained under this Part, even if it is otherwise admissible.
(3) This Part does not affect a court’s power under any other law to exclude, or limit the use of, evidence:
(a) because it has been obtained unlawfully or improperly; or
(b) because it would, if admitted, operate unfairly or be unfairly prejudicial to a party; or
16 Variation or revocation of orders
(1) A superior court may vary or revoke an order made by the court under section 7, 9A, 10 or 11.
(2) The power to vary an order includes the power to:
(a) include in the order a direction under section 13; or
(b) vary or revoke a direction under section 13 that is included in the order.
(3) If an order under section 7 or 10 that includes a direction under section 13 is revoked, the direction under section 13 is taken to have been revoked at the same time.
17 Courts may exercise certain powers in chambers
A court may exercise its power under section 7, 9A, 10, 11, 13 or 16 in chambers.
18 Operation of other laws
This Part is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of any Australian law, or of any rule or regulation made under such a law, that provides for the examination of witnesses outside Australia for the purpose of a proceeding in Australia.
(1) The power to make rules regulating the practice and procedure of a superior court extends, for the purpose of regulating proceedings brought under this Part in or before that court, to making any rules:
(a) prescribing all matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Part; and
(b) in particular, prescribing matters relating to the practice and procedure of that superior court in proceedings for making an order under Division 1 or 2.
(2) Rules so made must not be inconsistent with this Act or with regulations made under section 46.
(3) This section does not affect any power to make rules under any other law.
20 Proceedings to which this Part applies
(1) This Part applies to a proceeding, in any Australian court, that is:
(a) a criminal proceeding for an offence against the law of the Commonwealth; or
(b) a related civil proceeding; or
(c) a proceeding under a proceeds of crime law.
(2) This Part also applies to a proceeding, in any court of a State or Territory specified in the regulations, that is:
(a) a criminal proceeding for an offence against the law of that State or Territory; or
(b) a related civil proceeding of a kind specified in the regulations in respect of that State or Territory; or
(c) a proceeding under a law that is a corresponding law within the meaning of a proceeds of crime law.
Division 2—Obtaining foreign material
21 Requests for foreign material
This Part applies to testimony, and any exhibit annexed to such testimony, obtained as a result of a request made by or on behalf of the Attorney‑General to a foreign country for the testimony of a person, and any exhibit annexed to such testimony, to be made available.
22 Requirements for testimony
(1) The testimony must have been taken:
(a) on oath or affirmation; or
(aa) under an obligation to tell the truth imposed, whether expressly or by implication, by or under a law of the foreign country concerned; or
(b) under such caution or admonition as would be accepted, by courts in the foreign country concerned, for the purposes of giving testimony in proceedings before those courts.
(2) The testimony must purport to be signed or certified by a judge, magistrate or officer in or of the foreign country to which the request was made.
23 Form of testimony
(1) The testimony may be reduced to writing or be recorded on a tape, disk or other device from which sounds or images are capable of being reproduced.
(2) The testimony need not:
(a) be in the form of an affidavit; or
(b) constitute a transcript of a proceeding in a foreign court.
Division 3—Using foreign material
24 Foreign material may be adduced as evidence
(1) Subject to this section, foreign material may be adduced in a proceeding to which this Part applies.
(2) The foreign material is not to be adduced as evidence if:
(a) it appears to the court’s satisfaction at the hearing of the proceeding that the person who gave the testimony concerned is in Australia and is able to attend the hearing; or
(b) the evidence would not have been admissible had it been adduced from the person at the hearing.
(3) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply if:
(a) the foreign material is a business record; and
(b) the only reason why the evidence would not have been admissible had it been adduced from the person at the hearing is that an Australian law relating to hearsay evidence (however described) would have applied to the evidence.
(4) For the purpose of determining whether foreign material is a business record, and may be adduced as evidence, the court may:
(a) examine the foreign material; and
(b) draw any reasonable inference from the form and contents of the foreign material as well as from any other matters from which inferences may properly be drawn.
25 Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced—general
(1) The court may direct that foreign material not be adduced as evidence if it appears to the court’s satisfaction that, having regard to the interests of the parties to the proceeding, justice would be better served if the foreign material were not adduced as evidence.
Note: See also subsection 25A(1) (proceedings for designated offences).
25A Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced—proceedings for designated offences
(1) If a proceeding is:
(a) a criminal proceeding for a designated offence; or
(b) a proceeding under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in relation to a designated offence;
and the prosecutor seeks to adduce foreign material as evidence in the proceeding, then:
(c) the court must not give a direction under subsection 25(1) in relation to the foreign material; and
(d) the court may direct that the foreign material not be adduced as evidence in the proceeding if the court is satisfied that adducing the foreign material would have a substantial adverse effect on the right of a defendant in the proceeding to receive a fair hearing.
Extended meaning of prosecutor and defendant
(2) This section has effect, in relation to a proceeding under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as if:
(a) the responsible authority (under that Act) in relation to the proceeding were the prosecutor; and
(b) each other party to the proceeding were a defendant in the proceeding.
Note: Under that Act, the responsible authority is the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police or the Director of Public Prosecutions (see the definitions of responsible authority and proceeds of crime authority in section 338 of that Act). Responsibility can be transferred between these authorities (see section 315B of that Act).
(3) It is immaterial whether proceedings covered by subsection (1) were instituted before or after the commencement of this section.
26 Certificates relating to requests made to foreign countries
(1) The Attorney‑General or an authorised officer may, by signed writing, certify that specified documents or things were obtained as a result of a request made to a foreign country by or on behalf of the Attorney‑General.
(2) It is presumed (unless evidence sufficient to raise doubt is adduced to the contrary) that the documents or things specified in the certificate were obtained as a result of that request.
authorised officer means a person:
(a) who is an SES employee or acting SES employee in the Attorney‑General’s Department; and
(b) whom the Attorney‑General has, by notice published in the Gazette, appointed as an authorised officer.
27 Operation of other laws
This Part does not limit the ways in which a matter may be proved, or evidence may be adduced, under this Act (other than this Part) or any other Australian law.
28 Proceedings to which this Part applies
This Part applies to a proceeding, in an Australian court, that:
(a) is a civil proceeding other than a related civil proceeding; and
29 Requests for foreign material
This Part applies to testimony, and any exhibit annexed to such testimony, obtained as the result of a request by ASIC to a foreign business authority for the testimony of a person, and any exhibit annexed to such testimony, to be made available.
30 Requirements for testimony
(2) The testimony must:
(a) if the foreign business authority is an individual—purport to be signed or certified by that individual; or
(b) otherwise—purport to be signed by an office holder of the foreign business authority, and purport to bear an official or public seal of the foreign business authority or an office holder of the foreign business authority.
31 Form of testimony
(1) The testimony may be reduced to writing or be recorded on an audio or video tape.
32 Foreign material may be adduced as evidence
(1) Subject to subsection (2), foreign material may be adduced in a proceeding to which this Part applies.
33 Discretion to prevent foreign material being adduced
Division 4—Records of foreign business authorities
34 Evidence of records of foreign business authorities
Evidence of a record of a foreign business authority may be adduced in a proceeding to which this Part applies by producing a document that:
(a) purports to be a copy of, or an extract from or summary of, the record; and
(b) purports to have been certified by:
(i) if the foreign business authority is an individual—that individual; or
(ii) otherwise—an office holder of the foreign business authority;
to be a true copy, extract or summary, as the case may be.
35 Certificates relating to foreign material
(1) The Chairperson of ASIC or the Deputy Chairperson of ASIC may, by signed writing, certify that specified foreign material was obtained as a result of a request made to a foreign business authority by ASIC.
(2) It is presumed (unless evidence sufficient to raise doubt is adduced to the contrary) that the foreign material specified in the certificate was obtained as a result of that request.
36 Operation of other laws
37 Certificates attached to foreign public documents
(1) This section applies in relation to a foreign public document that has placed on it or annexed to it a certificate issued under the Convention.
(2) In a proceeding in any Australian court, and for the purposes of any person performing a function or exercising a power under an Australian law, the certificate is evidence of:
(a) the authenticity of the signature on the foreign public document; and
(b) the capacity in which the person signing the foreign public document has acted; and
(c) where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp that the foreign public document bears.
(3) Subject to section 39, an Australian court, or a person performing a function or exercising a power under an Australian law, must not require any formality other than the certificate in order to certify:
38 Foreign public documents not requiring legalisation
If a foreign public document is not subject to a requirement of legalisation, an Australian court, or a person performing a function or exercising a power under an Australian law, must not require a certificate issued under the Convention to be placed on or annexed to the foreign public document in order to certify:
39 Lesser formalities for authentication etc.
This Part does not prevent an Australian court, or a person exercising a function or power under an Australian law, requiring or accepting as evidence of:
(a) the authenticity of the signature on a foreign public document; or
(b) the capacity in which the person signing a foreign public document has acted; or
(c) where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp that a foreign public document bears;
a lesser formality than a certificate, issued under the Convention, placed on or annexed to the foreign public document.
(1) This Part applies in relation to any proceedings before an Australian court that are proceedings for the taking of evidence for use in proceedings instituted in or before a foreign court.
(2) The Attorney‑General’s power to make an order under section 42 may only be exercised in relation to proceedings mentioned in subsection (1).
authority means any person or body authorised to take or receive evidence:
(a) whether on behalf of a court or otherwise; or
(b) whether or not the person or body is empowered to require the answering of questions or the production of documents.
foreign court means any court, or authority, of a foreign country or a part of such a country.
41 Exercise of powers under this Part
The Attorney‑General must not exercise a power under this Part unless he or she is satisfied that it is desirable to do so for the purpose of preventing prejudice to Australia’s security.
(1) The Attorney‑General may make a written order prohibiting one or more of the following acts:
(a) the production of a document;
(b) the production of a thing;
(c) the giving of evidence or information, whether in relation to the contents of a document or otherwise.
(2) An order under this section may:
(a) be directed to a particular person, to a class of persons or to persons generally; and
(b) relate to a particular proceeding, to a class of proceedings or to proceedings generally; and
(c) relate to a particular document, thing, evidence or information or to a class of documents, things, evidence or information.
43 Copies etc. of documents
(1) If the Attorney‑General makes an order under section 42 that has effect in relation to a document, the order also has effect in relation to any copy, extract or summary of that document that is in Australia as if the copy, extract or summary were the document.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to a copy, extract or summary that is in existence at any time while the order concerned remains in force.
44 Intervention
(1) The Attorney‑General may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, intervene in proceedings to which this Part applies for the purpose of preventing a contravention of an order made under section 42.
(2) If the Attorney‑General intervenes in proceedings before a court under this section:
(a) a certificate by the Attorney‑General stating that the doing of an act prohibited by an order made under section 42 would be prejudicial to Australia’s security is conclusive evidence of that fact; and
(b) the court may, in the proceedings, make such order as to costs against the Commonwealth as the court thinks fit.
45 Injunctions
(a) an order made under section 42 prohibits the production of a document or thing or the giving of evidence or information; and
(b) the Federal Court is satisfied, on application by the Attorney‑General, that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person having possession or control of the document, thing, evidence or information might contravene the order;
the Federal Court may grant an injunction restraining that person from dealing with the document, thing, evidence or information in a manner specified in the injunction or restraining that person from dealing with the document, thing, evidence or information except in a manner specified in the injunction.
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed by carrying out or giving effect to this Act;
and, in particular, may make regulations relating to the practice and procedure of a superior court in proceedings for making an order under section 7, 9A, 10 or 11.
a) documents emanating from an authority or an official connected with the courts or tribunals of the State, including those emanating from a public prosecutor, a clerk of a court or a process server (‘huissier de justice’);
Such accession shall have effect only as regards the relations between the acceding State and those contracting States which have not raised an objection to its accession in the six months after the receipt of the notification referred to in sub‑paragraph d) of Article 15. Any such objection shall be notified to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
Signatures omitted
The certificate will be in the form of a square with sides at least 9 centimetres long
1. Country.............................................................
2. has been signed by............................................
3. acting in the capacity of.....................................
4. bears the seal/stamp of......................................
5. at...........................
6. the.........................
7. by.......................................................................
8. No..........................
Notes to the Foreign Evidence Act 1994
The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 59, 1994 amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Part 3 (ss. 20–27): 9 Oct 1994
Part 5 (ss. 37–39): 16 Mar 1995 (see Gazette 1995, No. GN8)
Schedule 1 (item 491): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (a)
Schedule 14: 23 Dec 1999 (b)
Ss. 4–14 and Schedule 3 (items 201–205): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (c)
Remainder: 1 Jan 2003 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 2002, GN44)
Schedule 2 (item 7): Royal Assent
Schedule 1 (item 15): 20 June 2006
55, 2010
Sch. 1 (items 15, 16, 18, 19)
Schedule 2 (items 195–197): 1 Jan 2012
Sch. 2 (item 197)
(a) The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 491) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:
(b) The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 14 only of the Federal Magistrates (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(c) The Foreign Evidence Act 1994 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 201–205) only of the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:
am. No. 55, 2001; No. 86, 2002; No. 136, 2005; No. 54, 2006; No. 3, 2007; No. 55, 2010
Heading to Div. 2 of Part 2........................................
rs. No. 194, 1999
ad. No. 194, 1999
Heading to s. 10................
Ss. 15–17............................
am. No. 136, 2005; No. 55, 2010
am. No. 41, 2003; No. 55, 2010
am. No. 55, 2010
Heading to s. 25................
Note to s. 25(1)..................
am. No. 174, 2011
Note to s. 25A(2)................
ad. No. 174, 2011
am. No. 146, 1999; No. 55, 2010
Foreign Evidence Amendment Act 2010 (No. 55, 2010)
15 Application of amendment made by item 7
The amendment made by item 7 of this Schedule applies in relation to testimony taken before or after the commencement of this item that is adduced on or after the commencement of this item.
16 Application of amendments made by items 10 and 11
The amendments made by items 10 and 11 of this Schedule apply in relation to foreign material obtained before or after the commencement of this item that is adduced on or after the commencement of this item.
18 Application of amendments made by items 13 and 14
The amendments made by items 13 and 14 of this Schedule apply in relation to a certificate that:
(a) is given on or after the commencement of this item; and
(b) relates to a document or thing obtained as a result of a request made before or after the commencement of this item.
19 Transitional and application provision—proceedings in a court of a State or Territory
(1) Despite the amendments made by this Schedule, Part 3 of the Foreign Evidence Act 1994 continues to apply to a proceeding mentioned in subsection 20(2) of that Act as if those amendments had not been made.
(2) However, if the regulations provide that those amendments apply to such a proceeding in a court of a particular State or Territory, Part 3 of that Act, as amended by this Schedule, applies to that proceeding.
(3) The Governor‑General may make regulations for the purposes of subitem (2).
Crimes Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2011 (No. 174, 2011)
197 Application of amendments—the Foreign Evidence Act 1994
(1) The amendments of the Foreign Evidence Act 1994 made by items 195 and 196 of this Schedule apply as set out in this item.
(2) The amendments apply in relation to proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 started before, at or after the commencement of those items.
(3) The amendments apply under subitem (2) of this item regardless of whether the conduct giving rise to those proceedings occurred, or is suspected to have occurred, before, at or after the commencement of those items.