Evidence Act 1995

Evidence that was obtained:

improperly or in contravention of an Australian law; or

in consequence of an impropriety or of a contravention of an Australian law;

Without limiting subsection (1), evidence of an admission that was made during or in consequence of questioning, and evidence obtained in consequence of the admission, is taken to have been obtained improperly if the person conducting the questioning:

did, or omitted to do, an act in the course of the questioning even though he or she knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act or omission was likely to impair substantially the ability of the person being questioned to respond rationally to the questioning; or

made a false statement in the course of the questioning even though he or she knew or ought reasonably to have known that the statement was false and that making the false statement was likely to cause the person who was being questioned to make an admission.

Without limiting the matters that the court may take into account under subsection (1), it is to take into account:

the probative value of the evidence; and

the importance of the evidence in the proceeding; and

the nature of the relevant offence, cause of action or defence and the nature of the subject‑matter of the proceeding; and

the gravity of the impropriety or contravention; and

whether the impropriety or contravention was deliberate or reckless; and

whether the impropriety or contravention was contrary to or inconsistent with a right of a person recognised by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and

whether any other proceeding (whether or not in a court) has been or is likely to be taken in relation to the impropriety or contravention; and

the difficulty (if any) of obtaining the evidence without impropriety or contravention of an Australian law.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is set out in Schedule 2 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.