Appendix A: Australian professional privileges

Table 1: Australian Professional Privileges

Privilege

Victoria

Commonwealth

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Client legal privilege

Evidence Act 2008 (Vic)

ss 118-126 *

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth)

ss 118-126 *

Evidence Act 2011 (ACT)

ss 118-126 *

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

ss 118-126 *

Professional confidential relationship privilege

N/A

N/A

Evidence Act 2011 (ACT)

ss 126A-126F

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

ss 126A-126F

Sexual assault communications privilege

Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958 (Vic)

ss 32B-32CF

N/A

N/A

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

ss 126G-126I

Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW)

ss 295-306

Journalist privilege

Evidence Act 2008 (Vic)

ss 126J-126K

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth)

ss 126J-126K

Evidence Act 2011 (ACT)

ss 126J-126L

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

ss 126J-126L

Religious confessions privilege

Evidence Act 2008 (Vic) s 127

Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 127

Evidence Act 2011 (ACT) s 127

Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 127

Medical communications privilege

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

* Privilege is absolute

Privilege

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Western Australia

Client legal privilege

Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (ACT)ss 118-126 *

Common law*

Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld)s 7 sch 3 *

Common law *

Evidence Act 2001 (Tas)

ss 118-126 *

Common law *

Soon to be Evidence Act 2025 (WA)ss 149-157 *

Professional confidential relationship privilege

N/A

N/A

N/A

Evidence Act 2001 (Tas)

ss 126A-126F

Evidence Act 1906 (WA)

ss 20A-20F

Soon to be Evidence Act 2025 (WA)ss 158-162

Sexual assault communications privilege

Evidence Act 1939 (NT)

ss 56-56G

Evidence Act 1977 (Qld)

ss 14C-14J

Evidence Act 1929 (SA)

ss 67D-67F

Evidence Act 2001 (Tas)

s 127B *

Evidence Act 1906 (WA)

ss 19A-19M

Soon to be Evidence Act 2025 (WA)ss 164-177

Journalist privilege

Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)

s 127A

Evidence Act 1977 (Qld)

ss 14Q-14ZB

Evidence Act 1929 (SA)

ss 72-72C

N/A

Evidence Act 1906 (WA)

ss 20G-20L

Soon to be Evidence Act 2025 (WA)ss 178-184

Religious confessions privilege

Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT) s 127

N/A

N/A

Evidence Act 2001 (Tas)

s 127

N/A

Medical communications privilege

Evidence Act 1939 (NT) s 12 *

N/A

N/A

Evidence Act 2001 (Tas)

s 127A *

N/A

* Privilege is absolute

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