Editors --- "Review of Uniform Evidence Acts" [2006] AdminRw 26; (2006) 57 Admin Review 99

• Review of uniform evidence Acts

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Review of uniform evidence Acts

In partnership with state governments and law reform bodies, the Australian Law Reform Commission’s review of the uniform evidence Acts seeks to harmonise Australia’s evidence laws. In July 2005 the ALRC released its discussion paper on the subject.^[1] The discussion paper highlights some possible areas for reform, among them legal professional privilege, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, exceptions for oral evidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional laws and customs, and the impact of evidence laws on vulnerable witnesses.

The ALRC’s final report, Uniform Evidence Law, was tabled in the Commonwealth and Victorian Parliaments and released in New South Wales on 8 February 2006. The report contains 63 recommendations, including a recommendation that Australia have a single set of streamlined, flexible evidence laws that will protect witnesses as well as parties, recognise the importance of confidential relationships, and curb legal ‘games’ in the courtroom.

More information about the review is available on the ALRC website <http://www.alrc.gov.au/inquiries/title/alrc102/index.html>.

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^[1] Australian Law Reform Commission 2005, Review of the Uniform Evidence Acts, Discussion Paper no. 69, ALRC, Sydney.