In Queensland, how are prior convictions viewed when used as evidence?

In Queensland, prior convictions are generally considered inadmissible as evidence to prove a person's conduct in a new matter. This principle is rooted in the desire to ensure that a defendant is tried based solely on the evidence relevant to the current charge, rather than being prejudiced by their past behavior. However, there are exceptions to this rule; prior convictions can be admissible in certain circumstances, such as when they are relevant to issues like credibility or character when they are directly pertinent to the case at hand.

For instance, if a witness's credibility is being assessed, and that witness has a prior conviction that is directly relevant to their reliability or truthfulness, the court may allow that information to be presented. Similarly, if a defendant is found to have a history of convictions related to the current charges, these may sometimes be introduced as evidence, depending on the nature of the offense.

The other options presented do not accurately reflect the legal standards in Queensland, as prior convictions are not always admissible to show conduct beyond the specified exceptions, do not serve a broad purpose of establishing credibility for all witnesses without limits, and they are certainly not irrelevant to court cases, as they can sometimes play a critical role under specific circumstances.