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[F.A.Q.]
Papua New Guinea Consolidated Legislation |
Chapter 48.
Certified on: / /20 .
INDEPENDENT
STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
Chapter 48.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.
1. Interpretation.
2. Existing rules.
3. Australia, States, Territories etc.
4. Certain National Seals.
5. Acts of Parliament, etc.
6. Regulations, etc.
7. Certain officers, etc.
8. Images of seals, signatures, etc.
9. Witness interested or convicted of offence.
10. Persons present without subpoena.
11. Spouses as witnesses in civil proceedings.
12. Accused as witness.
13. Spouse of accused as witness.
14. Accused as witness for prosecution.
15. Accused as witness as to prior convictions, etc.
16. Giving of evidence from witness box.
17. Deaf and dumb witnesses.
18. Communications during marriage.
19. Communications to clergymen and medical practitioners.
20. Dying declarations.
21. Discrediting of witness.
22. Contradictory statements of witness.
23. Cross-examination as to previous statements.
24. Depositions as evidence for defence.
25. Proof of previous conviction of witness.
26. Cross-examination as to credit.
27. Indecent or scandalous questions.
28. Confessions induced by threats.
29. Evidence in actions for breach of promise.
30. Evidence in actions for seduction.
31. Comparison of disputed hand-writings.
32. Proof by attesting witnesses.
33. Interpretation of Division 2.
34. Evidence by affidavit.
35. Affidavit evidence on notice.
36. Cross-examination of deponents.
37. Evidence of scientific examination.
37A. Interpretation.
37B. Special measures order.
37C. Video-taped evidence.
37D. Giving evidence at pre-trial hearing.
37E. Accused not to cross-examine complainant personally.
37F. Pre-trial hearings to consider what orders should be made.
37G. Reputation Evidence.
37H. Evidence of complainant’s sexual conduct.
37I. Disclosure of witness’ address and telephone number.
38. Government Printers’ copies of Acts as prima facie evidence.
39. Statutes published by authority.
40. Proclamations, commissions, orders and regulations.
41. Royal proclamations, etc.
42. Proclamations and acts of State of Australian States and Territories.
43. Acts of State, etc., of other countries.
44. Judicial proceedings.
45. Convictions.
46. Convictions outside the country.
47. Use of convictions.
48. Votes and proceedings in Parliaments.
49. Acts done by Head of State, Governor-General, High Commissioner, etc.
50. Public documents admissible in courts in Australia.
51. Other public documents.
52. Gazettes.
53. Printing by Government Printer.
54. Evidence where proof of seal, signature, etc., dispensed with.
55. Secondary evidence of registered deed or document, etc.
56. Probate and letters of administration.
57. Certificates relating to births, deaths and marriages.
58. Incorporation of company.
59. Official statistics.
60. By-laws, etc.
61. Business records.
62. Racial origin.
63. Age.
64. Interpretation of Division 5.
65. Admissibility of computerized information.
66. Proof of computer statements.
67. Weight to be attached to computer statements.
Subdivision A – Preliminary.
68. Interpretation of Division 6.
69. Changes in colour or tone.
Subdivision B – General.
70. Certified reproductions of public documents, etc.
71. Certified reproductions in answer to process to produce.
72. Reproductions of business documents destroyed, lost or unavailable.
73. Affidavit or declaration of maker of copy, etc.
74. Document processed by independent processor.
75. Affidavit or declaration of maker of print from photographic negative, etc.
76. Proof of destruction of document, etc.
77. Admission of certified copy of affidavit, etc.
78. Sufficiency of affidavit or declaration in certain cases.
79. Requirement as to negatives.
80. Notice to produce.
81. Proof of comparison.
82. Presumptions as to ancient document.
83. Reproduction made in Australia.
84. Admissibility generally.
85. Order for further reproduction.
Subdivision C – Use of Approved Photo-copying Machines.
86. Approval of photo-copying machines.
87. Admission of reproduction from approved machines.
88. Affidavit of maker of photo-copy.
89. Admission of reproductions of certain Government, insurance and banking documents.
90. Preservation of negative in place of original document.
91. Entries in bankers’ books.
92. Documents purporting to be copies of entries.
93. Production of books by bankers.
94. Inspection of bankers’ books.
95. Rules of Court, etc.
96. Regulations.
INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
AN ACT
entitled
Being an Act to consolidate, revise and amend in minor ways certain laws relating to evidence and related matters.
PART I. – PRELIMINARY.
1. INTERPRETATION.
“bank” means a person, partnership or company engaged in the ordinary business of banking by receiving deposits and issuing bills or notes payable to the bearer at sight or on demand, and includes a government savings bank established under a law;
“business” includes public administration and a business, profession, occupation, trade, undertaking or calling of any kind;
“court” includes a court, Judge, magistrate or arbitrator, and a person acting judicially;
“document” includes a book, plan, paper, parchment or other material on which there is any writing that is marked with letters or marks denoting words or any other signs capable of carrying a definite meaning to persons conversant with them, and includes a part of a document;
“Gazette” means the National Gazette, the Papua New Guinea Local Government Gazette or the Papua New Guinea Police Gazette, and includes–
(a) in relation to the former Australian Territory known as “Papua New Guinea”, the Papua New Guinea Government Gazette, the Papua New Guinea Local Government Gazette and the Papua New Guinea Police Gazette; and
(b) in relation to the former Territory of Papua and New Guinea, the Territory of Papua and New Guinea Government Gazette, the Papua and New Guinea Local Government Gazette and the Papua and New Guinea Police Gazette; and
(c) in relation to the former Territory of Papua-New Guinea, the Territory of Papua-New Guinea Government Gazette; and
(d) in relation to the former Territory of Papua, the Territory of Papua Government Gazette; and
(e) in relation to the former Territory of New Guinea, the New Guinea Gazette; and
(f) in relation to the British Military Administration or Occupation of the Colony or of the former Colony of German New Guinea, or of the Territory of New Guinea, the Rabaul Gazette or the Government Gazette of that administration or occupation; and
(g) in relation to the former Possession of British New Guinea, the British New Guinea Government Gazette; and
(h) in relation to the former British Protected Territory in or of New Guinea, the Queensland Gazette so far as it contains official material relating to the administration of Her Majesty’s Special Commissioner for the Protectorate; and
(i) in relation to Australia, the Australian Government Gazette or the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette; and
(j) in relation to the United Kingdom, the London Gazette, the Edinburgh Gazette or the Dublin Gazette,
as the case requires;
“Government Printer” includes a person appointed as the printer–
(a) to the Government of the United Kingdom; or
(b) to the Government of Australia; or
(c) to a Government of a State of Australia; or
(d) for a Territory of Australia; or
(e) for a pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea,
and a printer purporting to be the printer authorized to print the statutes, ordinances, acts of State or other public Acts of the legislatures of Papua New Guinea, the United Kingdom, Australia, a State or Territory of Australia or a pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea;
“High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea” means the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea appointed under the Papua New Guinea Act 1949-1975, as in force from time to time;
“legal proceedings” includes any civil, criminal or mixed proceedings and an inquiry in which evidence is or may be given before a court;
“National Statistician” means the National Statistician appointed under the Statistical Services Act 1980;
“person acting judicially” includes a Judge, magistrate, justice or arbitrator and any other person having, by law or by consent of the parties, authority to hear, receive and examine evidence, and an officer having in the discharge of his duties authority to examine evidence;
“pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea” means–
(a) the administrative union, under the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949 of Australia, as in force from time to time, of the former Territory of Papua and the former Territory of New Guinea; or
(b) the former Territory of Papua-New Guinea; or
(c) the former Territory of Papua; or
(d) the former Territory of New Guinea; or
(e) the Colony, or the former Colony, of German New Guinea, or the Territory of New Guinea, under British Military Administration or Occupation; or
(f) the former Possession of British New Guinea; or
(g) the former British Protected Territory in or of New Guinea,
by whatever name known;
“the regulations” means any regulations made under this Act;
“Territory of Australia” means a Territory of Australia referred to in Section 122 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, other than a pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea;
“this Act” includes the regulations.
2. EXISTING RULES.
PART II. – JUDICIAL NOTICE.
3. AUSTRALIA, STATES, TERRITORIES ETC.
(a) the pre-Independence Territories in Papua New Guinea; and
(b) Australia, and the States and Territories of Australia,
and their extent, from time to time.
4. CERTAIN NATIONAL SEALS.
(a) the National Seal; and
(b) the Great Seal of Australia; and
(c) the seal of a State of Australia,
without evidence of its having been impressed or any other evidence relating to it, and shall presume that it was properly impressed.
5. ACTS OF PARLIAMENT, ETC.
(a) Papua New Guinea; and
(b) Australia; and
(c) a State of Australia; and
(d) a pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea; and
(e) a Territory of Australia,
whenever made.
6. REGULATIONS, ETC.
(a) a regulation, rule of court, by-law, commission, determination, proclamation or order made by–
(i) the Head of State; or
(ii) a Minister; or
(iii) a Lieutenant-Governor or Administrator of a pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea; or
(iv) a High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea; or
(v) a Minister of the former House of Assembly,
made or purporting to be made by virtue of an Act or Ordinance; and
(b) a regulation, rule of court, by-law, commission, determination, proclamation or order made by the Governor-General of Australia or by or under the authority of a Minister of Australia; and
(c) an act, matter or thing of which publication in a Gazette is or was at any time directed by or under an Act or Ordinance, or an Act of Australia, when so published.
7. CERTAIN OFFICERS, ETC.
(a) the office of Head of State, Governor-General, Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea, Administrator, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Minister or Judge; or
(b) another public office if the fact of appointment to that office is notified in a Gazette; or
(c) an office to which the Head of State, acting on advice, by notice in the National Gazette, declares this section to apply.
8. IMAGES OF SEALS, SIGNATURES, ETC.
(a) a law requires a court to take judicial notice of the seal or signature of a court or person appearing on a document; and
(b) a reproduction of the document is admitted in evidence under this Act in any legal proceedings,
the court shall take judicial notice of the image of the seal or signature on the reproduction to the same extent as it would be required to take judicial notice of the seal or signature on the document.
PART III. – EVIDENCE.
Division 1.
General Rules.
9. WITNESS INTERESTED OR CONVICTED OF OFFENCE.
(a) he has or may have an interest in the matter in question; or
(b) he has or may have an interest in the result of the proceedings; or
(c) he has previously been convicted of any offence.
10. PERSONS PRESENT WITHOUT SUBPOENA.
11. SPOUSES AS WITNESSES IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS.
(a) the parties to the proceedings; and
(b) the persons on whose behalf the proceedings are brought or defended; and
(c) the husbands and wives of the parties or persons on whose behalf the proceedings are brought,
are competent and compellable to give evidence on behalf of any of the parties to the proceedings.
(2) Nothing in Subsection (1) makes a person compellable to answer a question tending to criminate himself.
12. ACCUSED AS WITNESS.
13. SPOUSE OF ACCUSED AS WITNESS.
(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), the wife or husband of a person charged with an offence shall not be called as a witness in any legal proceedings in connection with the offence without the consent of the person, except–
(a) where the wife or husband, as the case may be, is compellable to give evidence; or
(b) where the husband or the wife is charged with being a party to an offence against the other.
(3) Notwithstanding Subsections (1) and (2), the wife or husband of a person charged with bigamy may be called as witness for the prosecution or for the defence without the consent of the accused.
14. ACCUSED AS WITNESS FOR PROSECUTION.
(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), where a person charged with an offence is a witness he may be asked any question in cross-examination notwithstanding that it would tend to criminate him as to the offence.
15. ACCUSED AS WITNESS AS TO PRIOR CONVICTIONS, ETC.
(a) he has committed, or been convicted or been charged with any other offence; or
(b) he is of bad character,
unless–
(c) proof that he has committed or been convicted of the other offence is admissible evidence to show that he is guilty of the offence with which he is then charged; or
(d) he has personally or by his advocate asked questions of the witnesses for the prosecution with a view to establishing his own good character, or has given evidence of his own good character; or
(e) the nature or conduct of the defence is such as to involve imputations on the character of the prosecutor or the witnesses for the prosecution; or
(f) he has given evidence against any other person charged with the same offence.
16. GIVING OF EVIDENCE FROM WITNESS BOX.
17. DEAF AND DUMB WITNESSES.
(2) For the purposes of Subsection (1)–
(a) evidence in writing must be written; and
(b) a sign or other kind of communication must be made,
in the presence, sight and hearing of the court and of any party to the proceedings, or any representative of a party to the proceedings, who is present at the hearing of the proceedings.
18. COMMUNICATIONS DURING MARRIAGE.
(2) In legal proceedings in the National Court in its divorce and matrimonial causes jurisdiction, Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a husband and a wife who are both parties to the proceedings.
19. COMMUNICATIONS TO CLERGYMEN AND MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
(2) A medical practitioner must not, without the consent of his patient, divulge in any civil legal proceedings (unless the sanity of the patient is the matter in dispute) a communication made to him, in his professional capacity, by the patient, if it was necessary to enable him to prescribe or act for the patient.
(3) Nothing in this section protects a communication made for a criminal purpose, or prejudices the right to give in evidence a statement or representation made to or by a medical practitioner in or about the effecting by a person of insurance on the life of himself or any other person.
20. DYING DECLARATIONS.
(a) at the time when the person made the statement he believed, or may be reasonably supposed by the court to have believed, that his death was imminent, whether or not–
(i) he entertained at that time any hope of recovery; or
(ii) he thought that legal proceedings might eventuate; and
(b) at the time when the person made the statement he would have been a competent witness in the legal proceedings; and
(c) the person making the statement could, if he had not died, have given direct oral evidence in the proceedings of the matter in the statement.
21. DISCREDITING OF WITNESS.
22. CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS OF WITNESS.
(a) on his examination in chief; or
(b) under cross-examination,
may be asked in any legal proceedings whether he has made a statement relative to the subject matter of the proceedings that was inconsistent with his present testimony (the circumstances of the alleged statement being referred to sufficiently to designate the particular occasion), and if he does not admit that he made the statement proof may be given that he did in fact make it.
23. CROSS-EXAMINATION AS TO PREVIOUS STATEMENTS.
(2) The court may at any time during the proceedings require the writing to be produced for its inspection, and may make such use of the writing for the purposes of the proceedings as it thinks fit.
24. DEPOSITIONS AS EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE.
(a) the witness is dead or so ill as not to be able to travel; or
(b) the magistrate who committed the accused or held him to bail has certified before the committal or holding to bail that the evidence of the witness is material and that he believes that the witness is willing to attend the trial but is unable to bear the expense of attendance.
(2) No deposition may be read on the ground referred to in Subsection (1)(b) if the witness has, in due time before the trial, been subpoenaed by the prosecution.
25. PROOF OF PREVIOUS CONVICTION OF WITNESS.
26. CROSS-EXAMINATION AS TO CREDIT.
(a) shall decide whether or not the witness shall be compelled to answer it; and
(b) may, if it thinks fit, warn the witness that he is not obliged to answer it.
(2) In exercising its discretion under Subsection (1), the court shall have regard to the following considerations:–
(a) such a question is proper if it is of such a nature that the truth of the imputation conveyed by it would seriously affect the opinion of the court as to the credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(b) such a question is improper if the imputation that it conveys relates to a matter so remote in time or of such a character that the truth of the imputation would not affect, or would affect only in a slight degree, the opinion of the court as to the credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(c) such a question is improper if there is a great disproportion between the importance of the imputation made against the witness’s character and the importance of his evidence.
(3) This section does not make a witness compellable to give evidence on a matter that he is, by law, privileged from disclosing.
27. INDECENT OR SCANDALOUS QUESTIONS.
(a) indecent or scandalous, even if the question may have some bearing on the case before the court, unless the question relates to–
(i) facts in issue; or
(ii) matters necessary to be known in order to determine whether or not the facts in issue existed; or
(b) intended to insult or annoy, or needlessly offensive in form, even if the question is otherwise proper in itself.
28. CONFESSIONS INDUCED BY THREATS.
29. EVIDENCE IN ACTIONS FOR BREACH OF PROMISE.
30. EVIDENCE IN ACTIONS FOR SEDUCTION.
(2) The plaintiff in an action referred to in Subsection (1) shall not recover a verdict unless the evidence of the woman seduced is corroborated by some other material evidence of seduction.
31. COMPARISON OF DISPUTED HAND-WRITINGS.
32. PROOF BY ATTESTING WITNESSES.
(2) A deed may be proved and given in evidence in a District Court, Local Court or Warden’s Court in the same manner as a document that does not require attestation.
Division 2.
Evidence by Affidavit.
33. INTERPRETATION OF DIVISION 2.
34. EVIDENCE BY AFFIDAVIT.
(a) a particular fact or facts may be proved by affidavit; or
(b) the affidavit of a witness may be read in the proceedings on such conditions as the tribunal thinks reasonable; or
(c) a witness whose attendance ought to be dispensed with be examined by interrogatories or before an examiner named by the tribunal.
(2) Where it appears to the tribunal that a party to, or a person interested in, the proceedings bona fide and reasonably requires the production of a witness for cross-examination and that the witness can be produced, an order shall not be made under Subsection (1) authorizing his evidence to be given by affidavit.
(3) Nothing in an order under Subsection (1) affects the power of the tribunal to refuse to admit evidence tendered in accordance with any such order if, in the interests of justice, the tribunal thinks it proper to do so.
35. AFFIDAVIT EVIDENCE ON NOTICE.
(2) Unless a party to or a person interested in the proceedings gives notice, not less than two clear days before the hearing, to the party or the person who gave notice under Subsection (1) that he objects to the use of the affidavit, he shall be taken to have consented to the use of the affidavit, and the affidavit may be used in the proceedings unless the tribunal otherwise orders.
(3) On application of a party or person interested, or of its own motion, the tribunal may order that a subpoena be issued requiring a person who has made or intends to make an affidavit to attend before the tribunal to give evidence on oath or for cross-examination, or both.
36. CROSS-EXAMINATION OF DEPONENTS.
(a) he may serve on the party or person using or intending to use the affidavit a notice requiring the production of the deponent for cross-examination at the hearing; and
(b) if the party or person served with the notice does not produce the deponent at the hearing, he is not entitled to use or to rely on the affidavit as evidence without leave of the tribunal; and
(c) a subpoena may be issued on the application of the party or person served with the notice for the purpose of summoning the deponent to attend for cross-examination.
37. EVIDENCE OF SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION.
(a) his qualifications; and
(b) that he has made the examination; and
(c) the facts that he has ascertained and the conclusions at which he has arrived as a result of the examination,
is admissible in evidence in any legal proceedings in a court.
(2) Without affecting the admissibility of an affidavit made under Subsection (1), that subsection does not prevent a court, where it is satisfied, on application, that the justice of the case warrants its doing so, from–
(a) requiring the medical practitioner who made the affidavit to attend and give evidence before the court if he is in the country and can be brought before the court without depriving the community or any part of the community of any essential service; or
(b) arranging for the taking of his evidence orally by way of commission or in any other manner.
(3) Where–
(a) a person is charged with an indictable offence; and
(b) evidence is given on affidavit under Subsection (1); and
(c) the deponent does not give evidence in person,
the court shall not dispose of the matter summarily except with the consent of the accused.
Division 3.
Special Measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.
37A. INTERPRETATION.
“child” means a person under the age of 18 years;
“complainant” means a person against whom an offence is alleged to have been committed;
“crime of violence” means any offence against Division V.1 (Assault and Violence to the Person), Division V.3 (Homicide), Division V.4 (Offences Endangering Life or Health) and V.5 (Assaults) of the Criminal Code;
“sexual offence” means any offence against Division IV.2 (Offences Against Sexual Immorality), and Division IV.2A (Sexual Offences Against Children), Division IV.2B (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) and Division V.7 (Sexual Offences and Abduction) of the Criminal Code.
37B. SPECIAL MEASURES ORDER.
(a) under the age of 18 years at the time of the hearing; or
(b) the complainant in a proceeding relating to a sexual offence; or
(c) the complainant in a proceeding relating to a crime of violence.
(2) If, in the opinion of the Court, the quality of a witnesses evidence would likely to be diminished by reason of fear of distress in connection with testifying in the proceedings, the Court shall, subject to Subsection (3) and (4), order that one or more of the following special measures be used for the giving of evidence by that witness: –
(a) the use of a screen or other arrangement to prevent the witness from seeing the accused;
(b) the presence of a support person of the witness’ choosing seated with the witness when he or she is giving evidence;
(c) dispensing with the wearing of wigs and robes while the witness is giving evidence;
(d) planned seating arrangements for people who have an interest in the proceedings, including the level at which they are seated and the people in the witness’ line of vision;
(e) the adjournment of the proceedings or any part of the proceedings to other premises;
(f) the exclusion from the court, while the witness is giving evidence, of all or any persons without an interest in the proceedings;
(g) the examination of the witness through an intermediary, who shall communicate and explain –
(i) to the witness, the questions put to the witness, in a language appropriate to the witness’ age and development; and
(ii) to the court, the answers given by the witness in reply;
(h) permitting the evidence to be given from a place other than the courtroom by means of closed-circuit television or other facilities that enable communication between that place and the courtroom.
(3) In determining what special measures are appropriate, the Court shall consider –
(a) the availability of any necessary equipment or facilities; and
(b) the age of the witness; and
(c) the opinion of the witness; and
(d) which of the special measures would be likely to maximize as far as practicable the quality of the witness’ evidence.
(4) A judge need not make an order under Subsection (1) where he determines that to do so is contrary to the interest of justice.
(5) In determining whether the use of special measures is contrary to the interests of justice, the judge shall consider –
(a) the nature and alleged circumstances of the offence to which the proceedings relate; and
(b) the right of the accused to a fair trial; and
(c) whether the quality of the evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished by reasons of fear or distress on the part of the witness in connection with testifying in the proceedings; and
(d) any behaviour towards the witness on the part of the accused, or members of the family or associates of the accused; and
(e) whether the use of special measures would cause unnecessary delay in the proceedings.
(6) The use of special measures does not in any way affect the weight to be given to any evidence in a criminal proceeding.
37C. VIDEO-TAPED EVIDENCE.
(a) identifies himself or herself and attests to the truthfulness of the contents of the recording; and
(b) is available for cross-examination and re-examination.
(2) An order shall not be made under Subsection (1) if the court is of the opinion, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, that it is not in the interest of justice that the evidence be so admitted.
(3) In considering whether a recording should be admitted under this section the court must consider whether any prejudice to the accused which might result from the evidence being admitted is outweighed by the desirability of admitting the recorded interview.
37D. GIVING EVIDENCE AT PRE-TRIAL HEARING.
(2) A judge who hears an application under Subsection (1) may make such order as the judge thinks fit which is to include –
(a) directions, with or without conditions as to the persons who may be present at the pre-trial hearing; or
(b) directions, with or without conditions as to the persons or classes of persons, who are authorized to have possession of the video-taped recording of the evidence; or
(c) directions with or without conditions, as to the giving up of possession and as to the playing, copying or ensure of the recording.
(3) An order under Subsection (1) may be varied or revoked by –
(a) the judge who made the order; or
(b) a judge who has jurisdiction co-extensive with the judge under Paragraph (a).
(4) At a pre-trial hearing ordered under Subsection (1) –
(a) no person other than a person authorized by the judge under Subsection (1) is to be present at the hearing; and
(b) subject to the control of the presiding judge, the witness is to give his evidence and be examined and cross-examined; and
(c) except as provided by this section, the usual rules of evidence apply; and
(d) the proceedings are to be recorded on video-tape; and
(e) the accused is to be in a room separate from the room in which the hearing is held but is to be capable of observing the proceedings by means of a closed circuit television system.
(5) The child’s evidence at the trial is to be given by the presentation to the Court of the recording made under Subsection (4), and the child need not be present at the trial.
(6) A presentation to a Court of video-taped evidence under this section is admissible as if the evidence were given orally in the proceedings in accordance with the usual rules and practice of that Court.
37E. ACCUSED NOT TO CROSS-EXAMINE COMPLAINANT PERSONALLY.
(2) Where it appears to the court that this section applies, it may –
(a) invite the accused to arrange for a legal representative to act for him for the purpose of cross-examining the witness; and
(b) require the accused to notify the court, by the end of such period as it may specify, whether a legal representative is to act for him for that purpose.
(3) If by the end of the period specified in Subsection (2) –
(a) the accused has notified the court that no legal representative is to act for him for the purpose of cross-examining the witness; or
(b) no notification has been received by the court and it appears to the court that no legal representative is to so act,
the court shall –
(c) order that any question to the witness be stated to the judge, and the judge shall repeat the question accurately to the witness; or
(d) appoint an intermediary and order that any question to the witness be stated by putting the question to the intermediary, and the intermediary shall repeat the question accurately to the witness.
37F. PRE-TRIAL HEARINGS TO CONSIDER WHAT ORDERS SHOULD BE MADE.
(a) the giving of evidence by a person; or
(b) a matter affecting a person as a witness,
is likely to require the making of an order or the giving of directions under Section 37B, 37C, 37D or 37E, the party who is to call that person as a witness is to apply for a pre-trial hearing for the purpose of having all such matters dealt with before the trial.
(2) In Subsection (1), “pre-trial hearing” in relation to a Court means a hearing provided for by rules of that Court for the purposes of this section.
37G. REPUTATION EVIDENCE.
37H. EVIDENCE OF COMPLAINANT’S SEXUAL CONDUCT.
(a) the complainant shall not be cross-examined as to his sexual activities; and
(b) no evidence shall be admitted as to the sexual activities of the complainant, except with the leave of the court.
(2) The court shall not grant leave under this section unless the judge determines, in accordance with the procedures set out in Subsection (5), that the evidence –
(a) is of a specified instance of sexual activity; or
(b) is relevant to an issue at trial; or
(c) has significant probative value that is not substantially outweighed by the danger of prejudice to the proper administration of justice.
(3) In determining whether evidence is admissible under Subsection (2), the judge shall take into account –
(a) the interests of justice, including the right of the accused to make full answer and defence; and
(b) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of sexual offences; and
(c) whether there is a reasonable prospect that the evidence will assist in arriving at a just determination in the case; and
(d) the need to remove from the fact-finding process any discriminatory belief or bias; and
(e) the potential prejudice to the complainant’s personal dignity and right of privacy; and
(f) any other factor the judge considers relevant.
(4) Evidence that the complainant has engaged in sexual activity, whether with the accused or any other persons, is not admissible to support an inference that, by reason of the sexual nature of that activity, the complainant –
(a) is more likely to have consented to the sexual activity that forms the subject matter of the charge; or
(b) is less worthy of belief.
(5) An application for leave under this section –
(a) must be made in writing and set out –
(i) detailed particulars of the evidence that the accused seeks to adduce; and
(ii) the relevance of that evidence to an issue at trial; and
(b) must be heard in the absence of members of the public.
(6) The complainant cannot be compelled to give evidence in an application for leave under this section.
(7) If the court grants leave under this section, the judge must state in writing the reasons for doing so.
37I. DISCLOSURE OF WITNESS’ ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.
(a) the address, telephone number or place of employment is a materially relevant part of the evidence; or
(b) the court makes an order requiring the disclosure.
(2) The court may make such an order only if it is satisfied that disclosure is not likely to present a risk to the welfare or safety of any person, or that the interests of justice outweigh any such risk.
(3) An address or telephone number that is not required to be disclosed and that is contained in a written statement may be deleted from the statement, or rendered illegible, before the statement is produced in court or given to the accused person.
PART IV. – PROOF AND EVIDENCE IN CERTAIN CASES.
Division 1.
Statutes and Executive Acts, etc.
38. GOVERNMENT PRINTERS’ COPIES OF ACTS AS PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE.
(a) the Parliament; or
(b) the former House of Assembly or Legislative Council; or
(c) any other legislature of a pre-Independence Territory in Papua New Guinea; or
(d) the United Kingdom; or
(e) Australia; or
(f) a State or Territory of Australia,
and purporting to be printed by the Government Printer shall prima facie be deemed to be a correct copy of the Act or Ordinance without any further proof.