Uniform Evidence Manual

The Uniform Evidence Manual provides a first-port-of call guide to the application of the Evidence Act 2008. The Act commenced operation on 1 January 2010. The Manual includes:

• commentary on substantive sections of the Act;
• discussion of uniform evidence legislative policy;

• cross-references to the current edition of Stephen Odgers' Uniform Evidence Law.

Other Resources

Introduction to the Uniform Evidence Act in Victoria: Significant Changes  - prepared by JCV, in collaboration with the Victorian Law Reform Commission.

Flowcharts - Extracts from the guide

Admissibility of Evidence (PDF,88KB)
Hearsay Overview (PDF,15KB)
Hearsay in Civil Proceedings (PDF,27KB)
Hearsay in Criminal Proceedings (PDF,29KB)
Opinion (PDF,19KB)
Opinion Evidence (PDF,25KB)
Admissions (PDF,20KB)
Admissions as Exception to Hearsay and Opinion Rules in Civil Proceedings (PDF,19KB)
Admissions as Exception to Hearsay and Opinion Rules in Criminal Proceedings (PDF,23KB)
Tendency (PDF,27KB)
Coincidence (PDF,KB)
Credibility Evidence (PDF,27KB)
Identification Evidence - Visual (PDF,15KB)
Identification Evidence - Picture (PDF,25KB)
Client Legal Privilege (PDF,30KB)
Privilege Against Self-incrimination (PDF,16KB)

Further Reading 

Resources from the Australian, NSW and Victorian Law Reform Commissions, and from the Department of Justice (Vic).

ALRC, Evidence (Interim), Report 26, 1985 (ALRC Report 26)
ALRC, Evidence (Final), Report 38, 1987 (ALRC Report 38)
ALRC, NSWLRC and VLRC, Review of the Evidence Act 1995, ALRC Discussion Paper 69, NSWLRC Discussion Paper 47 and VLRC Discussion Paper (2005) (Joint Discussion Paper)
ALRC, NSWLRC and VLRC, Uniform Evidence Law, ALRC Report 102, NSWLRC Report 112 and VLRC Final Report (2005) (Joint Report)
Ready Reckoner for Evidence Act 2008 - commissioned by the Department of Justice and prepared by Andrew Palmer, Barrister at Law (PDF, 916KB)
VLRC, Implementing the Uniform Evidence Act, Report, 2006 (Implementation Report)

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