Which courts does the Evidence Act (EAC) apply to?

The Evidence Act (EAC) applies to all federal courts and matters that fall within its scope across Australian courts, making it a comprehensive legislative framework for evidence. This broad application is crucial as it establishes uniform standards and procedures for the admissibility of evidence, ensuring consistency in the application of evidence law throughout various jurisdictions.

The EAC is designed to promote fairness and the integrity of the judicial process regardless of whether a matter is heard in a state, territory, or federal court. Therefore, the inclusion of both federal courts and matters in all Australian courts reflects an intention to unify evidence law across different levels of the judiciary, which is beneficial for practitioners and litigants alike.

Other choices do not encompass the full range of courts that the Act aims to govern. Limiting its application to only state or only federal courts would undermine the goal of creating a cohesive legal framework for evidence in criminal and civil proceedings nationwide. Similarly, stating that it only applies to major city courts disregards the presence of courts in regional areas, which also handle cases that fall under the Evidence Act’s provisions.