Contents

Uniform Evidence Manual

Introduction to the Evidence Act 2008

History of the Uniform Evidence Acts

Reports and papers

Policy underlying the UEA

Key policy elements

Using the Victorian UEA

Application of the UEA

Relationship with other legislation

Relationship with the common law and equity – is the UEA a code?

General powers of a court

Structure of the UEA

Structure of the admissibility of evidence provisions

Discretions to exclude or limit use of evidence

Transitional provisions

Chapter 1 - Preliminary

Part 1.1 – Formal Matters (ss 1 – 3)

Part 1.2 – Application of the Evidence Act 2008 (ss 4 – 11)

Chapter 2 – Adducing Evidence

Part 2.1 – Witnesses (ss 12 – 46)

Part 2.2 – Documents (ss 47 – 51)

Part 2.3 – Other Evidence (ss 52 – 54)

Chapter 3 – Admissibility of Evidence

Part 3.1 – Relevance (ss 55 – 58)

Part 3.2 – Hearsay (ss 59 – 75)

Part 3.3 – Opinion (ss 76 – 80)

Part 3.4 – Admissions (ss 81 – 90)

Part 3.5 – Evidence of judgments and convictions (ss 91 – 93)

Part 3.6 – Tendency and coincidence (s 94 – s 101)

Part 3.7 – Credibility (ss 101A – 108C)

Part 3.8 – Character (ss 109 – 112)

Part 3.9 – Identification evidence (ss 113 – 116)

Part 3.10 – Privileges (Divisions 1 - 4, ss 117 – 134)

Part 3.11: Discretionary and Mandatory Exclusions (ss 135 – 139)

Chapter 4 - Proof

Part 4.1 – Standard of Proof (ss 140 – 142)

Part 4.2 – Judicial Notice (ss 143 – 145)

Part 4.3 – Facilitation of Proof (Division 1-3, ss 146 – 163)

Part 4.4 – Corroboration (s 164)

Part 4.5: Warnings & Information (ss 165 – 165B)

Part 4.6: Ancillary Provisions (Divisions 1 - 4, ss 166 – 181)

Chapter 5 - Miscellaneous

Schedule 1 – Oaths and Affirmations

Schedule 2 – Transitional Provisions

Appendix A: Child Witnesses: Testing Competency and Questioning – A Practical Guide