Reprint notePowers under the Reprints Act 1992 have been used in this reprint to bring the legislation into line with current drafting practice.Evidence and Discovery Act 1867An Act to consolidate and amend the law of evidence and discovery at common lawPreambleom 1908 8 Edw 7 No. 18 s 2 sch 1Part 1Judgments decrees and ordershdg prec s 1 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B1s 1 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B2s 2 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B3s 3 amd 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10 sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 4 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B4s 4 amd 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B5s 5 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B6s 6 om 1874 37 Vic No. 9 s 1hdg prec s 7 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B7s 7 amd 1892 56 Vic No. 3 s 2om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 8 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B8s 8 amd 1874 37 Vic No. 9 s 1om 1892 56 Vic No. 3 s 29s 9 amd 1927 18 Geo 5 No. 18 s 2om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B10s 10 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 11 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B11s 11 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B12s 12 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B13s 13 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B14s 14 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 15 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B15s 15 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 16 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B16s 16 amd 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10 sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 17 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B17s 17 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B18s 18 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B19s 19 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B20s 20 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 21 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B21s 21 amd 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B22s 22 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B23s 23 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 24 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B24s 24 amd 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 25 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B25s 25 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B25As 25A ins 1962 No. 9 s 4om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 26 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B26s 26 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 27 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B27s 27 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B28s 28 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B29s 29 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B30s 30 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B31Copies of judgments decrees rules and orders of Supreme Court to be received in evidence if duly certified by master prothonotary chief clerk or deputy registrar respectively(1)Copies of all judgments decrees rules and orders filed or recorded in the Supreme Court of the said State at Brisbane shall be admitted as evidence of the contents thereof by all courts Judges justices and other legal tribunals and in every judicial proceeding in the said State without production of the originals of such documents respectively provided the copies of such orders and decrees made in the equitable jurisdiction of the said Supreme Court at Brisbane be certified under the hand of the master in equity of the said court and that such copies of all judgments decrees rules and orders made in the common law and ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the said Supreme Court at Brisbane be certified under the hand of the prothonotary or chief clerk thereof.(2)And they shall be deemed prima facie to be so certified if they purport to be so certified.hdg prec s 32 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B32s 32 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B33s 33 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B34s 34 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B35s 35 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 36 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B36s 36 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 37 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B37s 37 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B37APowers as to oaths and notarial Acts abroad(1)In this section—authorised employee means an employee of—
  • (a)the Commonwealth authorised under section 3(c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955 (Cwlth); or
  • (b)the Australian Trade Commission authorised under section 3(d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955 (Cwlth).
    • consular officer means a person appointed to hold or act in any of the following offices (being an office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or of some other country which is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations) in a country or place outside the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or, as the case may be, such other country, that is to say—
  • (a)ambassador; or
  • (b)high commissioner; or
  • (c)minister; or
  • (d)head of mission; or
  • (e)commissioner; or
  • (f)charge d’affaires; or
  • (g)counsellor or secretary at an embassy, high commissioner’s office, legation or other post; or
  • (h)consul-general; or
  • (i)consul; or
  • (j)vice-consul; or
  • (k)pro-consul; or
  • (l)trade commissioner; or
  • (m)consular agent.
    • (2)Where any oath, affidavit, or notarial act is required for the purpose of any court or matter in Queensland, any such oath or affidavit, and any such notarial act which, if done in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a notary public could do may, in any country or place outside the Commonwealth of Australia, be made, sworn, or done before a consular officer or authorised employee exercising his or her functions in that country or place.(2A)Every such oath, affidavit, or notarial act made, sworn, or done before any such consular officer or authorised employee shall be as effectual as if duly made, sworn, or done before a lawful authority in Queensland.(3)Any document required, authorised, or permitted by any Act or law of Queensland to be attested or verified by, or sealed, or signed, or acknowledged or declared before a justice of the peace of this State may, in any country or place outside the Commonwealth of Australia, be attested, or verified by, or sealed, or signed, or acknowledged or declared by or before a consular officer or authorised employee exercising his or her functions in that country or place.(3A)Every document attested or verified by, or sealed, or signed, or acknowledged or declared before any such consular officer or authorised employee shall be as effectual as if duly attested, or verified by, or sealed, or sworn, or acknowledged or declared before a justice of the peace in Queensland.(4)Where any enactment in force at the passing of the Evidence and Discovery Acts Amendment Act 1960 or thereafter in force requires, authorises, or permits any notarial act to be done by, or any oath or affidavit to be made or taken or any document to be sealed or signed or acknowledged or declared before, any person appointed to hold or act in any diplomatic or consular office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, whether that person is in that enactment referred to as a British ambassador, envoy, minister, charge d’affaires, secretary of embassy or legation, consul-general, consul, vice-consul, pro-consul, or consular agent, or by any other title, then the same may be done by or, as the case may be, made, or taken, or sealed, or signed, or acknowledged or declared in any country or place outside the Commonwealth of Australia before any consular officer or authorised employee exercising his or her functions in that country or place.(5)For the purposes of this subsection—enactment includes a provision of any order in council, regulation, rule, by-law, or other instrument made pursuant to any Act of this State as well as any enactment of the Legislature of this State.s 37A ins 1960 9 Eliz 2 No. 22 s 4amd 2000 No. 58 s 2 sch    38Certain documents to be evidence without proof of seal or signature of official personsAny document purporting to have affixed impressed or subscribed thereon or thereto the seal and signature of any British ambassador envoy minister charge d’affaires secretary of embassy or legation consul-general consul vice-consul acting consul pro-consul or consular agent or of any Australian consular officer or an authorised employee within the meaning of the Australian Consular Officers’ Notarial Powers and Evidence Act 1946 or of any other person who is a consular officer or an authorised employee within the meaning of section 37A of this Act, in testimony of any oath affidavit affirmation or notarial act having been administered sworn affirmed had or done by or before him or her shall be deemed prima facie to be so affixed impressed or subscribed and shall accordingly be admitted in evidence without proof of any such seal and signature being the seal and signature of the person whose seal and signature the same purport to be or of the official character of such person.s 38 amd 1946 10 Geo 6 No. 43 s 5(i); 1960 9 Eliz 2 No. 22 s 5; 2000 No. 58 s 2 sch39s 39 amd 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10 sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B40s 40 amd 1965 No. 61 s 11 sch 2om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B41s 41 amd 1965 No. 61 s 11 sch 2om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B41As 41A ins 1962 No. 9 s 5om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B42s 42 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B42As 42A ins 1962 No. 9 s 6om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B42Bs 42B ins 1962 No. 9 s 6om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B42Cs 42C ins 1962 No. 9 s 6om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B    Part 2Speeches or addresses43Speeches to the jury(1)Upon the trial of any civil cause the addresses to the court or jury shall be regulated as follows—the party who begins or his or her counsel shall be allowed in the event of the party’s opponent not announcing at the close of the case of the party who begins his or her intention to adduce evidence to address the court or jury a second time at the close of such case for the purpose of summing up the evidence.(2)And the party on the other side or his or her counsel shall be allowed to open the case and also to sum up the evidence (if any).(3)And the right to reply shall be the same as at present.44s 44 om 1899 63 Vic No. 9 s 3(2) sch 3hdg prec s 45 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B45s 45 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B46s 46 amd 1890 54 Vic No. 28 s 3 sch 1om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B47s 47 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B48s 48 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B49s 49 om 1908 8 Edw 7 No. 18 s 2 sch 150s 50 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B51s 51 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B52s 52 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 53 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B53s 53 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B54s 54 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 55 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B55s 55 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 56 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B56s 56 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B57s 57 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B58s 58 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B59s 59 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B60s 60 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B61Such examinations may be read without proofAffidavits and affirmations duly taken under this Act shall and may be received read and made use of in and before any court of law or equity or other judicature whatever in the State and the Judges and officers thereof in or in relation to any action suit cause matter or proceeding in or before any such court or judicature in like manner and shall be of the same force and effect as affidavits and affirmations taken in or before such court or judicature or by any person duly commissioned or authorised by such court or judicature to take such affidavits or affirmations and shall be filed and dealt with accordingly.62s 62 amd 1972 No. 31 s 6 sch 1om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B62As 62A ins 1967 No. 53 s 2om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 63 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B63s 63 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B64s 64 om 1894 58 Vic No. 23 s 265s 65 om 1886 50 Vic No. 17 s 2 sch 166s 66 om 1886 50 Vic No. 17 s 2 sch 167Depositions of prisoners’ witnesses dying before trial—attendance of witnesses for prisoner(1)In every case where any witness who shall have been called and examined before the justice or justices by and on behalf of a party committed or held to bail shall happen to die before the trial and in cases in which the witness shall be so ill as not to be able to travel and in all cases in which the justices who committed the prisoner or held the prisoner to bail shall have certified before such committal or holding to bail that the evidence of the witness is material and that the prisoner is in their belief willing to attend the trial but will be unable to bear in the expense of attendance the deposition of such witness may be read in evidence to the jury in the prisoner’s defence if the party on trial shall so require.(2)However, where any witness has in due time before the trial been subpoenaed by the Crown such certificate of such justices shall not render the deposition admissible.68s 68 amd 1899 63 Vic No. 9 s 3(2)sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B69s 69 om 1886 50 Vic No. 17 s 2sch 1hdg prec s 70 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B70s 70 sub 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B71s 71 sub 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 72 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B72s 72 sub 1903 3 Edw 7 No. 10 s 10sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B73s 73 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B74s 74 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 75 om 1908 8 Edw 7 No. 18 s 2 sch 175s 75 om 1899 63 Vic No. 9 s 3(2) sch 376s 76 amd 1899 63 Vic No. 9 s 3(2) sch 3om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 77 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B77s 77 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt Bhdg prec s 78 impliedly om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt B78s 78 om 1977 No. 47 s 3 (2) sch 1 pt BPart 3Commencement and short title79Commencement of Act—short titleThis Act shall commence on 31 December 1867 and may be referred to as the Evidence and Discovery Act 1867.