Public documents
(1) A document that purports to be a copy of, or an extract from or summary of, a public document and to have been: (a) sealed with the seal of a person who, or a body that, might reasonably be supposed to have the custody of the public document; or (b) certified as such a copy, extract or summary by a person who might reasonably be supposed to have custody of the public document; is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be a copy of the public document, or an extract from or summary of the public document. (2) If an officer entrusted with the custody of a public document is required by a court to produce the public document, it is sufficient compliance with the requirement for the officer to produce a copy of, or extract from, the public document if it purports to be signed and certified by the officer as a true copy or extract. (3) It is sufficient production of a copy or extract for the purposes of subsection (2) if the officer sends it by prepaid post, or causes it to be delivered, to: (a) the proper officer of the court in which it is to be produced; or (b) the person before whom it is to be produced. (4) The court before which a copy or extract is produced under subsection (2) may direct the officer to produce the original public document. Note: Section 182 gives this section a wider application in relation to Commonwealth records.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 22 May 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au. Verify the current text against the official source before relying on it.
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