Uniform Evidence Law (ALRC 102)
In July 2004, the Attorney-General of Australia asked the ALRC to examine the operation of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth). The legislation is based on a uniform Evidence Act scheme, which was the product of a previous ALRC inquiry
At the time of the commencement of this latest Evidence inquiry, the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island were operating under the uniform Evidence Act scheme.
The ALRC was required to work closely with the New South Wales Law Reform Commission (NSWLRC) and the Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC), who were conducting similar inquiries into the operation of the uniform Evidence Act.
As part of this reference, two consultation papers were released:
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an Issues Paper, Review of the Uniform Evidence Acts 1995 (ALRC IP 28) was released by the ALRC in December 2004;
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a Discussion Paper, Review of the Uniform Evidence Acts (ALRC DP 69), was jointly produced by all three Commissions in July 2005.
The final report, Uniform Evidence Law (ALRC 102), completed jointly by the ALRC, NSWLRC and VLRC, was submitted to the Australian, New South Wales and Victorian Attorneys-General on the reporting deadline of 5 December 2005.
It was tabled in the Commonwealth and Victorian parliaments, and released in NSW, on 8 February 2006.
A number of recommendations from ALRC 102 have been implemented, and the remaining recommendations are under consideration by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.
Media releases issued as part of this inquiry:
- Complexity, courtroom games must go in evidence shake-up: ALRC (8 February 2006)
- Momentum growing for national evidence law (4 July 2005)
- Evidence law reform a boost for business: ALRC (20 December 2004)
- Evidence under review by law reform commission (27 July 2004)