Evidence of certain public documents
158 Evidence of certain public documents
If:
a public document, or a certified copy of a public document, of a State or Territory is admissible for a purpose in that State or Territory under the law of that State or Territory; and
it purports to be sealed, or signed and sealed, or signed alone, as directed by the law of that State or Territory;
it is admissible in evidence to the same extent and for that purpose in all courts:
without proof of:
the seal or signature; or
the official character of the person appearing to have signed it; and
without further proof in every case in which the original document could have been received in evidence.
A public document of a State or Territory that is admissible in evidence for any purpose in that State or Territory under the law of that State or Territory without proof of:
the seal or signature authenticating the document; or
the judicial or official character of the person appearing to have signed the document;
is admissible in evidence to the same extent and for any purpose in all courts without such proof.
This section only applies to documents that are public records of a State or Territory.
Section 5 extends the operation of this provision to proceedings in all Australian courts.
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