49. Jury Directions in Victorian Criminal Trials — Complete Catalogue¶
Scope and currency
Every direction by Part and Division · Jury Directions Act 2015 (Vic), Authorised Version No. 017 (all amendments as at 26 April 2026) · Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic) and residual common law
Request architecture: s 12 (counsel must request the directions to be given or not given) · s 14 (judge must give a requested direction unless there are good reasons not to) · s 15 (judge must not give an unrequested direction) · s 16 (unrequested direction only where there are substantial and compelling reasons) · s 10 (Part 3 does not apply to general directions, or to a direction the judge is required to give or not give under this or any other Act).
Revision current to JDA Authorised Version No. 017 (26 April 2026)
Part 6 of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Stalking and Other Matters) Act 2026 (Vic) (No. 1/2026), ss 88–102, commenced 26 April 2026. It inserted Division 1AAB (ss 44Q–44S), inserted s 3A, substituted the s 3 definition of sexual offence, extended s 45 to intimate-image offences and to non-fatal strangulation where the s 34AF defence is raised, amended ss 44O, 46, 47, 47A, 48, 54A, 54E and 54I, and inserted Schedule 1 clause 8. The 2026 Act made no amendment to Part 6 (family violence, ss 55–60) or to the s 57 definition, and made no JDA change relating to stalking (the stalking reforms amended s 21A of the Crimes Act 1958 only).
Inserted by No. 1/2026 s 89. Now the single gateway definition on which Part 5 turns.
Definition
ss 4, 4A
Application of Act
s 4A applies the Act to criminal proceedings without juries (inserted by No. 37/2017 s 3; s 4A(1)(ab) inserted by No. 32/2024 s 835).
Application
ss 5–8
Part 2 — General
s 5 guiding principles; s 6 no particular form of words required for a direction; s 7 correction of statements or suggestions contrary to the Act; s 8 power to extend or abridge time.
Framework
ss 9–13
Part 3 — the request process
s 9 purposes; s 10 application (Part 3 does not apply to general directions or to a direction the judge is required to give or not give under any Act); s 11 counsel to assist in identifying the matters in issue; s 12 practitioners must request that particular directions be given or not given; s 13 unrepresented accused.
Procedural
s 14
Judge must give requested directions
The requested direction must be given unless there are good reasons not to.
Obligation
s 15
No unrequested directions
The judge must not give a direction that has not been requested.
Prohibition
s 16
Direction regardless of the parties' views
An unrequested direction may be given only where there are substantial and compelling reasons.
Own motion
s 17
Abolition preserved
Abolition of the common law obligation to give certain directions does not limit s 16(1).
Abolition
2 — Part 4 Div 1: post-offence incriminating conduct (ss 18–24)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
s 18
Definition
Defines incriminating conduct — post-offence conduct relied on as an implied admission of guilt.
Definition
s 19
Prosecution notice
The prosecution must give notice of the conduct relied on as incriminating conduct.
Procedural
s 20
Evidence of incriminating conduct
The prosecution may not rely on conduct as incriminating unless the judge determines it is reasonably capable of being viewed by the jury as incriminating conduct.
Threshold ruling
s 21
Direction on incriminating conduct
The jury may use the conduct as evidence of guilt only if satisfied it occurred and that the only reasonable explanation is that the accused believed they had committed the offence. Applies only where the prosecution relies on the conduct as an implied admission — if it does not, a s 21 direction must not be given (Lowe v R).
Own motion
s 22
Additional direction
There are many reasons a person may behave in a way that looks guilty; looking guilty does not mean being guilty.
On request
s 23
Direction to avoid improper use
Where the conduct is adduced but not relied on as an implied admission — do not conclude guilt from it.
On request
s 24
Abolition of common law rules
Abolishes the common law on post-offence conduct and consciousness of guilt (Edwards v R (1993); Zoneff v R (2000)).
Abolition
3 — Part 4 Div 2: other misconduct evidence (ss 25–30)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
ss 25–26
Application; definitions
Fixes the scope of the Division and defines other misconduct evidence.
Application
s 27
Direction on other misconduct evidence adduced by the prosecution
The judge must identify how the evidence is relevant, direct the jury not to use it for any other purpose, and warn against deciding on prejudice.
On request
s 28
Misconduct adduced by an accused about a co-accused
Equivalent directions where an accused adduces misconduct evidence about a co-accused.
As applicable
s 29
Direction to avoid improper use
Where misconduct is admitted for a non-tendency purpose (e.g. context) — express warning against tendency reasoning.
On request
s 30
Abolition of common law rules
Abolishes the common law on other misconduct evidence (tendency, coincidence, relationship, context). No case authority identified in the sources.
Defines evidence of a kind that may be unreliable.
Definition
s 32
Direction on unreliable evidence
Caution needed for evidence of a kind that may be unreliable (accomplice, prison informer, hearsay); the judge must identify the significant matters that may make it unreliable.
On request
s 33
Prohibitions — child witnesses
The judge and counsel must not say or suggest that children as a class are unreliable; that children's evidence as a class is inherently less credible or reliable, or requires more careful scrutiny, than that of adults; that a particular child's evidence is unreliable solely on account of age; or that it would be dangerous to convict on the uncorroborated evidence of a child.
Prohibition
s 34
Abolition of common law rules
Except as provided by the Division, the judge is not required to direct on evidence of a kind that may be unreliable (Hargan v R; DPP v Hester; R v Pahuja; B v R).
Abolition
5 — Part 4 Div 4: identification evidence (ss 35–37)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
s 35
Definition
Broader than the Evidence Act 2008 — positive identification, recognition, similarity, and identification of objects or of persons other than the accused.
Definition
s 36
Direction on identification evidence
Caution needed; an honest witness may be mistaken; several witnesses may all be mistaken. In Victoria s 36 replaces s 116 of the Evidence Act 2008 for identification directions in criminal trials.
On request (s 16 if compelling)
s 37
Abolition of common law rules
Abolishes the common law identification direction (Domican v R (1992)).
Abolition
6 — Part 4 Div 5: delay and forensic disadvantage (ss 38–40)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
s 38
Definition
Defines significant forensic disadvantage.
Definition
s 39
Direction on significant forensic disadvantage
Where the accused has suffered a significant forensic disadvantage because of delay (more than the mere existence of delay) — inform the jury of the nature of the disadvantage and to take it into account. The judge must not say it is dangerous to convict, or that the complainant's evidence requires great scrutiny.
On request
s 40
Abolition of common law rules
Abolishes the common law delay and forensic disadvantage directions (Longman v R (1989); Crampton v R; Doggett v R).
Abolition
7 — Part 4 Div 6: failure to give evidence or call a witness (ss 41–44)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
s 41
Accused not giving evidence or calling a witness
The accused need not give evidence or call a witness; the jury must not speculate about what evidence might have been given; silence cannot fill gaps in the prosecution case or be used as an admission. Replaces the Azzopardi direction, and the Jones v Dunkel inference as against the defence. (Whether the prosecution may comment is governed by s 20 Evidence Act 2008.)
Own motion (if it arises)
s 42
Prohibited statements and suggestions
s 42(b) prohibits the Weissensteiner inference — no adverse inference of guilt from the accused's silence. Nothing replaces it.
Prohibition
s 43
Prosecution not calling or questioning a witness
Where the prosecution fails to call or question a witness it would reasonably be expected to call, without satisfactory explanation, the jury may infer the witness would not have assisted the prosecution. Replaces Jones v Dunkel as against the prosecution.
On request
s 44
Abolition of common law rules
Abolishes the common law on the accused's silence and on failure to call witnesses (Weissensteiner v R; Azzopardi v R; Jones v Dunkel (1959); Dyers v R).
Abolition
8 — Part 4 Divs 7–11: previous representations, victim credibility, the accused's evidence, motive to lie, child witnesses (ss 44A–44N)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
ss 44A–44E
Div 7 — previous representations (ins. No. 37/2017 s 5)
s 44A definition; s 44B no direction required about repetition of a previous representation; s 44C no direction required about the evidence of a person who saw, heard or perceived a complaint; s 44D no direction required about a complaint made in general terms; s 44E abolition (Papakosmas v R (1999); R v Stoupas; R v HJS).
As applicable
ss 44F–44G
Div 8 — doubts about the victim's evidence (ins. No. 37/2017 s 5)
s 44F prohibits a direction casting doubt on the truthfulness or reliability of the victim's evidence in the prohibited terms; s 44G abolition (R v Markuleski (2001)).
Prohibition
ss 44H–44K
Div 9 — the accused giving evidence; interest in outcome (ins. No. 37/2017 s 5)
s 44H prohibits suggesting that an interest in the outcome bears on the assessment of witnesses generally, or that the accused's evidence is less credible or requires more careful scrutiny because a person on trial has an interest in the outcome (a particular interest of a particular witness or accused may still be raised); s 44I direction to assess the accused's evidence as any other witness's; s 44J prohibits directing on whether the accused is under more stress than other witnesses, or that the accused gave evidence because a guilty person who gives evidence is more likely to be believed or because an innocent person can do nothing more; s 44K abolition (Robinson v R; R v Haggag; R v McMahon; R v Buckley).
Prohibition / on request
ss 44L–44M
Div 10 — motive to lie (ins. No. 37/2017 s 5)
s 44L direction on whether a prosecution witness has a motive to lie; s 44M abolition (Palmer v The Queen (1998)).
On request
s 44N
Div 11 — language and cognitive skills of a child witness (ins. No. 42/2018 s 30)
Where the reliability or credibility of a child witness is likely to be in issue, the judge must direct (unless there are good reasons not to) — before the child's evidence where the issue is apparent at the outset — that children can accurately remember and report past events; that developing language and cognitive skills may affect the detail, chronology and completeness of an account and how a child understands and responds to questions; and that children may have difficulty with complicated language or concepts and may not seek clarification.
Own motion (if in issue)
9 — Part 5 Divs 1AA and 1AAB: early indication, and historic sexual offences (ss 44O–44S)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
ss 44O–44P
Div 1AA — early indication of likely Part 5 directions (ins. No. 38/2022 s 43)
Before the trial commences the judge may request the parties to indicate whether evidence is likely to be adduced that would provide a good reason for giving any Part 5 direction; the parties may still request directions later. s 44O amended by No. 1/2026 s 96 — the Division now applies simply to a proceeding relating to a charge for a sexual offence within s 3A, rather than by reference to specified provisions.
Procedural
s 44Q
Div 1AAB — application (ins. No. 1/2026 s 93)
Applies to a criminal proceeding relating (wholly or partly) to a charge for a sexual offence alleged to have been committed before 1 July 2015. Where the offence is alleged to have been committed between two dates, one before and one on or after 1 July 2015, it is treated as committed before 1 July 2015 for JDA purposes.
Application
s 44R
Div 1AAB — direction on consent
On a s 12 request the judge must direct on one or more of: the meaning of consent in s 36 of the Crimes Act 1958 as in force immediately before its repeal by s 7(2) of the Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2016; that the law deems a specified circumstance to negate consent; that if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that a specified circumstance existed the jury must find the person did not consent; that the fact a person did not say or do anything to indicate free agreement is enough to show the act occurred without free agreement; and that the jury is not to regard a person as having freely agreed merely because they did not protest or physically resist, did not sustain physical injury, or on other prohibited assumptions.
On request
s 44S
Div 1AAB — direction on the accused's awareness
Where evidence is led or an assertion made that the accused believed the complainant was consenting, a s 12 request may be made for a direction that, in determining whether the accused was aware the complainant was not or might not be consenting, the jury must consider any evidence of that belief and whether it was reasonable in all the circumstances — having regard to whether the accused was aware of any specified non-consent circumstance, any steps taken to ascertain consent and their nature, and any other relevant matter.
On request
10 — Part 5 Div 1 Subdiv 1: consent and reasonable belief — directions on request (ss 45–47B)¶
Amended by No. 1/2026 s 91. Meaning of consent — the capability and freedom to choose; withdrawal of consent; the circumstances negating consent. The Note to s 46(2) was substituted to direct the judge to ss 53P and 53Q Crimes Act 1958 for intimate-image offences and ss 34AG and 34AH for strangulation offences; the Note to s 46(4)(a) was substituted; and s 46(4)(b) now requires the judge, on request, to direct that if the jury is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that a circumstance specified in s 34AH, s 36AA or s 53Q existed, it must find that the person did not consent.
On request
s 47
Direction on reasonable belief in consent
Amended by No. 1/2026 s 92. Intoxication and personal attributes: if the intoxication was self-induced, regard is had to the standard of a reasonable person who is not intoxicated and is otherwise in the same circumstances; if not self-induced, to a reasonable person intoxicated to the same extent and in the same circumstances. s 47(3)(a) now permits either party to request a direction that if the jury concludes the accused knew or believed a circumstance in s 34AH, s 36AA or s 53Q existed, that knowledge or belief is sufficient to prove the accused did not reasonably believe the complainant consented.
On request
s 47A
Application of Division / form of words (ins. No. 38/2022 s 48)
The Division applies to a proceeding relating to a charge for a sexual offence. Where absence of consent is not an element, the Division applies to the acts alleged to constitute the offence in the same way as to acts constituting an offence of which absence of consent is an element (s 47A(2)); s 47A(3), substituted by No. 1/2026 s 97(2), extends that to attempt, incitement and conspiracy — the directions apply to the acts constituting, or that would constitute, the underlying principal offence. s 47A(4) permits a form of words reflecting that absence of consent is not an element; s 47A(5) preserves s 6.
Application
s 47B
Part 3 does not apply
The request architecture in Part 3 is displaced for this Division.
Part 3 excluded
11 — Part 5 Div 1 Subdiv 2: the judge's obligation to direct on consent (ss 47C–47I)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
s 47C
Judge must give directions on consent and reasonable belief
The ss 47D–47I directions must be given at the earliest time in the trial the judge determines is appropriate, where the judge is satisfied there are good reasons to give the direction, having regard to any submissions of the parties.
Own motion
s 47D
Absence of physical injury, violence or a threat
Consent can be absent even without physical injury, violence or a threat.
Own motion (good reasons)
s 47E
Responses to a non-consensual sexual act
People respond to non-consensual acts differently (including freezing); there is no typical or correct response.
Own motion (good reasons)
s 47F
Other sexual activity
Consent to other sexual activity, before or after, is not consent to the charged act.
Own motion (good reasons)
s 47G
Personal appearance and conduct of the complainant
Consent is not to be inferred from clothing, alcohol or drug consumption, location, or flirtatious behaviour.
Own motion (good reasons)
s 47H
Non-consensual acts between certain people
Non-consensual acts occur between married people, acquaintances, and sex workers.
Own motion (good reasons)
s 47I
General assumptions
Faulty general assumptions do not inform a reasonable belief in consent.
s 48 application (amended by No. 1/2026 s 98); s 49 Part 3 does not apply; s 50 definitions.
Application
s 51
Prohibited statements — delay and unreliability
Prohibits statements or suggestions that delay in, or lack of, complaint or other matters indicate the allegation is false or the complainant unreliable (amended by No. 38/2022 s 51).
Prohibition
s 52
Direction on delay in or lack of complaint
Differences in victims' reactions are common; victims may delay complaint for many reasons; delay does not necessarily mean the allegation is false (amended by No. 38/2022 s 52).
Own motion
ss 53–54
Repeal and abolition
s 53 was repealed by No. 38/2022 s 53. s 54 abolishes the common law rules that delay in, or lack of, complaint may cast doubt on the complainant's reliability (Kilby v R (1973); Crofts v R (1996)).
Abolition
ss 54A–54D
Div 3 — differences in the complainant's account (ins. No. 37/2017 s 7)
s 54A application (amended by No. 1/2026 s 99); s 54B Part 3 does not apply; s 54C definition; s 54D — people may not remember every detail or describe an event identically each time, and trauma can affect recall.
Own motion (s 54D)
ss 54E–54H
Div 4 — evidence of post-offence relationship (ins. No. 38/2022 s 56)
s 54E application (amended by No. 1/2026 s 100); s 54F Part 3 does not apply; s 54G definition; s 54H — it is not uncommon for a victim to maintain or re-establish a relationship or contact with the offender; that does not mean the offence did not occur.
Own motion (s 54H)
ss 54I–54K
Div 5 — complainant distressed or emotional while giving evidence (ins. No. 38/2022 s 56)
s 54I application (amended by No. 1/2026 s 101); s 54J Part 3 does not apply; s 54K — truthful and untruthful accounts may each be given with or without visible signs of emotion or distress.
Own motion (s 54K)
13 — Part 6: family violence (ss 55–60) — unchanged by No. 1/2026¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
ss 55–57
Application; Part 3 excluded; definition
s 55 application of Part; s 56 Part 3 does not apply; s 57 definition of family violence.
Application
s 58
Request for a family violence direction
Available on defence request (or on the judge's own motion where the accused is unrepresented) where family violence is in issue.
On request
s 59
Content of the direction
Family violence evidence is relevant to whether the accused acted in self-defence or under duress.
Mandatory once requested
s 60
Additional matters
The judge may explain the dynamics of family violence, how it affects a person's perception of danger, and why the accused might believe their response was the only reasonable one even if the threat was not immediate.
On request
14 — Part 7: general directions, proof, perseverance and deliberations (ss 61–64G)¶
Section
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
s 61
What must be proved beyond reasonable doubt
Identifies the elements the prosecution must prove to the criminal standard.
Own motion
s 62
Abolition — proof BRD confined to s 61 matters
Abolishes the common law requirement that matters other than elements and defences be proved beyond reasonable doubt — the Shepherd indispensable-intermediate-fact rule (Shepherd v R (1990)) and R v Sadler (2008).
Abolition
ss 63–64
Explanation of 'beyond reasonable doubt'
s 63 (substituted by No. 38/2022 s 57) requires the judge to explain the phrase — e.g. not an imaginary or fanciful doubt, not an unrealistic possibility; s 64 (amended by No. 38/2022 s 58) governs how the explanation may be given.
Own motion
ss 64A–64D
Div 2 — perseverance and majority verdicts (ins. No. 37/2017 s 9)
s 64A definition; s 64B the judge must not direct the jury to persevere towards a unanimous verdict at the same time as, or immediately before or after, a majority verdict direction; s 64C a perseverance direction is not a precondition to a majority verdict direction; s 64D abolition (R v Muto & Eastey; R v Ahmet).
Restriction / abolition
ss 64E–64G
Div 3 — jury deliberations (ins. No. 37/2017 s 9)
s 64E directions on the order in which offences are to be considered (e.g. manslaughter only after acquittal of murder); s 64F directions on the order in which elements, defences and issues in dispute are to be considered; s 64G abolition of the contrary common law (Stanton v R (2003); Medici v R; Smith v R).
As directed
15 — Parts 8–9: summing up, transitionals (ss 65–68 and Schedule 1)¶
Section
Provision
Effect
Character
s 65
Judge's obligations when summing up
Directions on the elements of each offence and any defence properly raised (voluntariness, intent, recklessness, self-defence, intoxication, mental impairment, alibi), plus statutory or common law alternative verdicts where open and requested or where fairness requires.
Obligation
s 66
Only the necessary evidence
The judge must identify only so much of the evidence as is necessary to assist the jury to determine the issues, having regard to the facts in issue and their complexity, the length of the trial, the complexity of the evidence, the parties' addresses, and any transcript or documents given to the jury.
Obligation limited
s 67
Integrated directions
The judge may combine directions of law with factual questions in a question trail or checklist.
Discretionary
s 68 and Sch 1
Transitional provisions
Schedule 1 cll 1–8 apply the successive amending Acts. Clause 8 (ins. No. 1/2026 s 102): an amendment made by a provision of Part 6 of the 2026 Act applies only to a trial that commences (within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009) on or after the commencement of that provision, or to a summary hearing, committal proceeding, pre-trial hearing, appeal, case stated or special hearing under s 4A(1) for which the specified day is on or after that commencement.
Transitional
Part 10
Repealed
Part 10 (ss 69–81) was a temporary amending Part, self-repealed on 29 June 2016 under s 81.
Spent
16 — Abolition map: what each abolition provision kills¶
Provision
Rule abolished
Case authority
s 17
Common law obligation to direct on alternative defences, offences or bases of complicity not identified by counsel (abolition does not limit s 16(1))
Pemble v R (1971); Gilbert v R; R v Nguyen
s 24
Common law on post-offence incriminating conduct and consciousness of guilt
Edwards v R (1993); Zoneff v R (2000)
s 30
Common law on other misconduct evidence (tendency, coincidence, relationship, context)
No case authority identified in the sources
s 34
Common law requiring directions on evidence of a kind that may be unreliable
Hargan v R; DPP v Hester; R v Pahuja; B v R
s 37
Common law identification direction
Domican v R (1992)
s 40
Common law on delay and forensic disadvantage
Longman v R (1989); Crampton v R; Doggett v R
s 44
Common law on the accused's silence and on failure to call or question a witness
Weissensteiner v R; Azzopardi v R; Jones v Dunkel (1959); Dyers v R
s 44E
Common law requiring directions on previous representations
Papakosmas v R (1999); R v Stoupas; R v HJS
s 44G
Common law requiring or permitting directions on doubts about a complainant's truthfulness or reliability
R v Markuleski (2001)
s 44K
Common law on a witness's or accused's interest in the outcome of the trial
Robinson v R; R v Haggag; R v McMahon; R v Buckley
s 44M
Common law requiring or permitting directions on a prosecution witness's motive to lie
Palmer v The Queen (1998)
s 54
Common law that delay in, or lack of, complaint casts doubt on the complainant's credibility
Kilby v R (1973); Crofts v R (1996)
s 62
Common law requiring matters other than elements and defences to be proved beyond reasonable doubt
Shepherd v R (1990); R v Sadler (2008)
s 64D
Common law requiring or permitting perseverance directions alongside majority verdict directions
R v Muto & Eastey; R v Ahmet
s 64G
Common law prohibiting directions on the order of jury deliberations
• Own motion / regardless of request: ss 16, 21, 44N, 47C, 52, 54D, 54H, 54K, 63.
• Prohibitions on a statement, suggestion or direction: ss 15, 33, 42, 44F, 44H, 44J, 51, 64B.
• 'Part 3 does not apply': ss 47B, 49, 54B, 54F, 54J, 56 — plus the s 10 carve-out for general directions and for directions required or forbidden by any Act.
• Statutory replacements:Azzopardi → s 41 · Jones v Dunkel → s 41 (defence) and s 43 (prosecution) · Domican → s 36 · Weissensteiner → no replacement, the reasoning is prohibited by s 42(b) · s 116 Evidence Act 2008 → displaced by s 36 for identification directions.
18 — Residual common law directions (carried forward from the prior revision)¶
Source
Direction
Trigger & key content
Character
CL
Liberato direction
Stark conflict between the accused's exculpatory evidence and prosecution witnesses — the jury must acquit if the accused's account leaves a reasonable doubt, even if they do not positively believe it.
As required
CL
Burns direction
Where the prosecution relies on an admission or confession — the jury may use it only if satisfied it was actually made and was truthful.
As required
CL
Good character direction
Use of the accused's good character — both as to credibility and as to the likelihood of offending.
On request
CL
Browne v Dunn direction
Failure to cross-examine on a material point later contradicted by a party's own case — how to weigh the unchallenged against the contradictory evidence.
As required
CL
Expert / opinion direction
The jury is not bound by an expert's opinion and must consider its factual basis.
Own motion = the judge must give the direction where the evidence raises it, whether or not requested. On request = a Part 3 direction: the judge must give it if requested unless there are good reasons not to (s 14), and may give it unrequested only where there are substantial and compelling reasons (s 16). Prohibition = the provision forbids a particular statement, suggestion or direction. Abolition = the provision abolishes a former common law direction or rule.
• 26 April 2026 — Part 6 (ss 88–102) of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Family Violence, Stalking and Other Matters) Act 2026 (Vic) (No. 1/2026) commenced. Inserted Div 1AAB (ss 44Q–44S) and s 3A; substituted the s 3 definition of sexual offence; extended s 45 to Subdiv 8FAAB (intimate images) and to offences where a s 34AF Crimes Act defence is raised; amended ss 44O, 46, 47, 47A, 48, 54A, 54E, 54I; inserted Sch 1 cl 8.
• 26 April 2026 — Sch 1 cl 8 transitional: the Part 6 amendments apply only to trials commencing on or after that date, or to s 4A(1) proceedings whose specified day falls on or after it. Trials on foot before 26 April 2026 run on the former provisions.
• Verified externally — the AustLII notes to the Jury Directions Act 2015 record No. 1/2026 (assent 10 February 2026) as amending the JDA by ss 88–102, commencing 26 April 2026.
• Source of truth — JDA Authorised Version No. 017, all amendments as at 26 April 2026. Consolidation reflects Nos. 14/2015, 47/2016, 6/2017, 37/2017, 5/2018, 42/2018, 7/2022, 38/2022, 26/2023, 32/2024 and 1/2026.
• not re-verified in this revision — the 30 July 2023 commencement of the No. 38/2022 affirmative-consent package, and the residual common law table at item 18, are carried forward from the prior revision of this catalogue and were not re-verified against the current JDA source.