SA evidence laws need tech revamp: report

South Australia’s evidence laws must be updated to benefit from current and future technologies, argues the South Australian Law Reform Institute in a report released today.

The recommended update would bring the state’s laws in line with Commonwealth law, already mirrored by NSW, Tasmania and the ACT.

“Technology is changing rapidly and our community has an increasing reliance on that technology,” said SA Law Reform Institute Director Professor John Williams.  

“Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure our evidence laws are keeping up with the times."

The report recommends new provisions for using social networking, emails and SMS communications in evidence, as well as streamlining the way documents and other material produced digitally can be brought into evidence.

The Institute is also recommending the repeal of outdated provisions relating to communications by telegram and telegraph.

South Australian Attorney-General John Rau welcomed the report, and said it would help improve current law.