Who can witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration? (Australia)

This page explains who can act as a witness for a statutory declaration which is made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth).

The permitted categories of witnesses for Commonwealth statutory declarations in Australia are set out in regulation 4 and schedule 2 of the Statutory Declarations Regulations 1993 (Cth). Some other jurisdictions (for example Western Australia) also permit people on the Commonwealth list of witnesses to witness stat decs for those jurisdictions.

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The permitted categories of witnesses for Commonwealth stat decs are:

Lawyers

A person who is enrolled on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, or the High Court of Australia, as a legal practitioner, however they are described (for example they may be described as a solicitor, barrister, lawyer or barrister & solicitor) may witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration.

Licensed or registered people

People who are currently currently licensed or registered under a law of a State or Territory to practise in one of these occupations may witness a Commonwealth statutory declaration:

Chiropractor
Dentist
Legal practitioner
Medical practitioner
Nurse
Optometrist
Patent attorney
Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Psychologist
Trade marks attorney
Veterinary surgeon

Other people

The following other people can also witness Commonwealth statutory declarations:

Agent of the Australian Postal Corporation who is in charge of an office supplying postal services to the public
Australian Consular Officer or Australian Diplomatic Officer (within the meaning of the Consular Fees Act 1955)
Bailiff
Bank officer with 5 or more continuous years of service
Building society officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
Chief executive officer of a Commonwealth court
Clerk of a court
Commissioner for Affidavits
Commissioner for Declarations
Credit union officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
Employee of the Australian Trade Commission who is:
(a) in a country or place outside Australia; and
(b) authorised under paragraph 3 (d) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
(c) exercising his or her function in that place
Employee of the Commonwealth who is:
(a) in a country or place outside Australia; and
(b) authorised under paragraph 3 (c) of the Consular Fees Act 1955; and
(c) exercising his or her function in that place
Fellow of the National Tax Accountants’ Association
Finance company officer with 5 or more years of continuous service
Holder of a statutory office not specified in another item in this Part
Judge of a court
Justice of the Peace
Magistrate
Marriage celebrant registered under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
Master of a court
Member of Chartered Secretaries Australia
Member of Engineers Australia, other than at the grade of student
Member of the Association of Taxation and Management Accountants
Member of the Australian Defence Force who is:
(a) an officer; or
(b) a non-commissioned officer within the meaning of the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 with 5 or more years of continuous service; or
(c) a warrant officer within the meaning of that Act
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants or the National Institute of Accountants
Member of:
(a) the Parliament of the Commonwealth; or
(b) the Parliament of a State; or
(c) a Territory legislature; or
(d) a local government authority of a State or Territory
Minister of religion registered under Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
Notary public
Permanent employee of the Australian Postal Corporation with 5 or more years of continuous service who is employed in an office supplying postal services to the public
Permanent employee of:
(a) the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
(b) a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority; or
(c) a local government authority;
with 5 or more years of continuous service who is not specified in another item in this Part
Person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the law of the State or Territory in which the declaration is made
Police officer
Registrar, or Deputy Registrar, of a court
Senior Executive Service employee of:
(a) the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; or
(b) a State or Territory or a State or Territory authority
Sheriff
Sheriff’s officer
Teacher employed on a full-time basis at a school or tertiary education institution
Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy