Evidence (Interim) (ALRC 26) and Evidence (ALRC 38)
The reference to review Australia's evidence laws was received on 18 July 1979. The ALRC was required to review the laws of evidence applicable in proceedings in federal courts and the courts of the Territories, with a view to producing a comprehensive law of evidence.
Consultation papers released as part of this inquiry were:
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Issues Paper 3 - Reform of Evidence Law (1980);
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Discussion Paper 16 - Reform of Evidence Law (1980); and
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Discussion Paper 23 - Evidence Law Reform: Stage 2 (1985).
The interim report, ALRC 26, was tabled on 21 August 1985 and the final report, ALRC 38, on 5 June 1987.
The Evidence reports have been the subject of substantial implementation.
In July 2004, the federal Attorney-General asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to review the operation of the Evidence Act 1995. This inquiry was conducted with the New South Wales and Victorian law reform commissions. The final report, Uniform Evidence Law (ALRC 102), was tabled in the Commonwealth and Victorian parliaments, and released in NSW, on 8 February 2006.