Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsNo. 79, 1983
Compilation No. 49
Compilation date: 14 October 2024
Includes amendments: Act No. 38, 2024 and Act No. 86, 2024
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Archives Act 1983 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 October 2024 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self-repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Part I--Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
2A Objects of this Act
3 Interpretation
3A A company no longer established for a public purpose
3B Commonwealth-controlled companies or associations that are not authorities of the Commonwealth
3C Director-General may determine archival resources of the Commonwealth
4 Extension to Territories
4A Application of the Criminal Code
Part II--Establishment, functions and powers of the National Archives of Australia
5 Establishment and functions of National Archives of Australia
6 Powers of Archives
6A Records that are not part of the archival resources of the Commonwealth
Part III--The Director-General and staff of the Archives
7 Director-General
8 Delegation by Director-General
9 Staff
Part IV--National Archives of Australia Advisory Council
10 National Archives of Australia Advisory Council
11 Functions of Council
12 Chair and Deputy Chair of Council
13 Deputies of members
14 Remuneration and allowances of members
15 Termination of office of member
16 Resignation of member
17 Meetings of the Council
Part V--Commonwealth records
Division 1--Preliminary
18 Records of the Parliament
19 Court records
20 Regulations and arrangements relating to certain records
21 Archives may be given custody of certain records
22 Records of Royal Commissions etc.
22A Cabinet notebooks
22B Census information
22C Independent Review documents and PWSS documents
23 Records of inter-governmental authorities
Division 2--Dealings with Commonwealth records
24 Disposal, destruction etc. of Commonwealth records
25 Advice to Council on disposal practices
26 Alteration of Commonwealth records
27 Transfer of certain Commonwealth records to care of Archives
28 Archives to have access to records
28A Records of companies or associations that cease to be authorities of the Commonwealth
29 Exemption of certain records
30 Commonwealth records to be available to Commonwealth institutions
30A Non-disclosure of Census information
Division 3--Access to Commonwealth records
31 Records in open access period to be publicly available
32 Consultation with States
33 Exempt records
35 Identification of exempt records
36 Forms of access
37 Conditions in respect of proper care of records
38 Access to part of exempt record
39 Information as to existence of certain documents
40 Applications for access to records
40A Consideration period for applications for access to records
40B Applications for access to records made by persons acting in concert etc.
Division 4--Review of decisions
42 Internal reconsideration of decisions
43 Applications to Administrative Review Tribunal
44 Powers of Tribunal
50 Parties
50A Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security must be requested to give evidence in certain proceedings
51 Onus
52 Tribunal to ensure non-disclosure of certain matters
53 Production of exempt records
55 Complaints to Ombudsman
55A Automatic stay of certain decisions on appeal
Division 5--Miscellaneous
56 Arrangements for accelerated or special access
57 Protection against certain actions
58 Access to records apart from Act
59 Security classifications
60 Transitional provisions relating to access
Part VI--Samples of material for the Archives
62 Samples of material for Archives
Part VII--Care of material of the Archives
63 Location of material of the Archives
64 Custody of material of the Archives other than by Archives
Part IX--Miscellaneous
68 Annual Report by the Council
69 Certified copies of records
69A Charges for discretionary service for Commonwealth institutions
70 Transitional
71 Regulations
Endnotes
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1--About the endnotes
Endnote 2--Abbreviation key
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Endnote 4--Amendment history
Abbreviation key--Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history--Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |
am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |
amdt = amendment | orig = original |
c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub-subparagraph(s) |
Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
def = definition(s) | prev = previous |
Dict = Dictionary | (prev ... ) = previously |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |
Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |
ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |
effect | rep = repealed |
F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |
Sdiv = Subdivision(s) | |
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) |
cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |
mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |
No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3--Legislation history
Act | Number and year | Assent | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
79, 1983 | 3 Nov 1983 | 6 June 1984 (s 2 and gaz 1984, No S206) |
| |
165, 1984 | 25 Oct 1984 | s 2(32): 25 Oct 1984 (s 2(2)) | ||
76, 1986 | 24 June 1986 | |||
Intelligence and Security (Consequential Amendments) Act 1986 | 102, 1986 | 17 Oct 1986 | -- | |
38, 1988 | 3 June 1988 | |||
A.C.T. Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 | 109, 1988 | 6 Dec 1988 | Sch 5: 11 May 1989 (s 2(3) and gaz 1989, No S164) | -- |
126, 1988 | 14 Dec 1988 | Sch 2: 1 Jan 1989 (s 2(2) and gaz 1988, No S402) | -- | |
75, 1990 | 22 Oct 1990 | Sch 3: 22 Oct 1990 (s 2(1)) | -- | |
80, 1990 | 23 Oct 1990 | -- | ||
180, 1991 | 25 Nov 1991 | Sch: 6: 23 Dec 1991 (s 2(2)) | -- | |
196, 1992 | 21 Dec 1992 | Sch: 10 Mar 1993 (s 2(2), (3)(a) and gaz 1993, No GN17) | -- | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
60, 1993 | 3 Nov 1993 | -- | ||
168, 1994 | 16 Dec 1994 | Sch 3 (item 17): 16 Dec 1994 (s 2(1)) | -- | |
Prime Minister and Cabinet (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 | 33, 1994 | 15 Mar 1994 | ||
10, 1995 | 15 Mar 1995 | s 3(c) and 6-8: 18 Apr 1995 (s 2(2)) | -- | |
43, 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | Sch 4 (item 10) and Sch 5 (items 16-18): 25 Oct 1996 (s 2(1)) | -- | |
189, 1997 | 7 Dec 1997 | Sch 1 (item 1): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2) | -- | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
145, 1999 | 11 Nov 1999 | Sch 1 (items 2, 3): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2) | -- | |
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 | 146, 1999 | 11 Nov 1999 | Sch 1 (items 100-103): 5 Dec 1999 (s 2(1), (2)) | -- |
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999 | 161, 1999 | 10 Dec 1999 | Sch 3 (items 1, 17): 10 Dec 1999 (s 2(2)) | -- |
194, 1999 | 23 Dec 1999 | Sch 5: 23 Dec 1999 (s 2(1)) | -- | |
9, 2000 | 7 Mar 2000 | Sch 2 (item 2) and Sch 3 (items 20, 34, 35): 2 July 2000 (s 2(1) and gaz 2000, No S328) | Sch 3 (items 20, 34, 35) | |
30, 2000 | 19 Apr 2000 | Sch 1 (items 1-3) and Sch 2: 19 Apr 2000 (s 2) | -- | |
Communications and the Arts Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 | 5, 2001 | 20 Mar 2001 | ||
125, 2002 | 10 Dec 2002 | Sch 2 (item 1): 1 Jan 2003 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- | |
135, 2003 | 17 Dec 2003 | Sch 2 (items 9-11): 17 June 2004 (s 2(3)) | -- | |
38, 2005 | 1 Apr 2005 | Sch 1 (items 203-205): 16 May 2005 (s 2(1) item 6) | Sch 1 (item 205) | |
Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Act 2005 | 128, 2005 | 4 Nov 2005 | Sch 8 (item 1): 2 Dec 2005 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
10, 2006 | 23 Mar 2006 | Sch 1 (items 1-6): 20 April 2006 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner (Consequential Amendments) Act 2006 | 86, 2006 | 30 June 2006 | Sch 1 (item 2): 30 Dec 2006 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
158, 2007 | 24 Sept 2007 | Sch 2 (items 1-4): 24 Sept 2007 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
113, 2008 | 31 Oct 2008 | Sch 1 (items 1-6, 24): 1 Nov 2008 (s 2) | Sch. 1 (items 6, 24) | |
Freedom of Information (Removal of Conclusive Certificates and Other Measures) Act 2009 | 99, 2009 | 6 Oct 2009 | Sch 2: 7 Oct 2009 (s 2) | Sch 2 (items 19-22) |
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment Act 2009 | 102, 2009 | 8 Oct 2009 | Sch 1 (items 62E-62H): 9 Oct 2009 (s 2(1) item 4) | -- |
51, 2010 | 31 May 2010 | Sch 3 (items 1-6, 35-37, 40) and Sch 7: 1 Nov 2010 (s 2(1) items 4, 6, 7) | Sch 3 (item 40) and Sch 7 | |
46, 2011 | 27 June 2011 | Sch 2 (items 75, 76) and Sch 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011 (s 2(1) items 3, 12) | Sch 3 (items 10, 11) | |
National Portrait Gallery of Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2012 | 149, 2012 | 6 Nov 2012 | Sch 1: 1 July 2013 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Federal Circuit Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 | 13, 2013 | 14 Mar 2013 | Sch 1 (item 28) and Sch 2 (item 2): 12 Apr 2013 (s 2(1) items 2, 3) | -- |
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2014 | 31, 2014 | 27 May 2014 | Sch 4 (items 1-8): 24 June 2014 (s 2(1) item 9) | Sch 4 (item 8) |
62, 2014 | 30 June 2014 | Sch 6 (items 2, 3), Sch 7 (item 125) and Sch 14: 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) items 6, 14) | Sch 14 | |
as amended by |
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|
|
|
Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2015 | 36, 2015 | 13 Apr 2015 | Sch 2 (item 7-9) and Sch 7: 14 Apr 2015 (s 2) | Sch 7 |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 486): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015 | 126, 2015 | 10 Sept 2015 | Sch 1 (item 495): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
108, 2014 | 2 Oct 2014 | Sch 7 (items 67, 144, 145): 3 Oct 2014 (s 2(1) items 3, 5) | Sch 7 (items 144, 145) | |
59, 2015 | 26 May 2015 | Sch 2 (items 57-60): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 5) | Sch 2 (items 356-396) | |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
33, 2016 | 23 Mar 2016 | Sch 2: 24 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
60, 2015 | 26 May 2015 | Sch 8 (items 2-5) and Sch 9: 1 July 2015 (s 2(1) items 19, 22) | Sch 9 | |
Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015 | 62, 2015 | 16 June 2015 | Sch 2 (items 1, 2) and Sch 4 (items 1-84): 16 June 2016 (s 2(1) items 2, 4) | Sch 3 (item 1) and Sch 4 (items 1-84) |
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
93, 2017 | 23 Aug 2017 | Sch 2 (item 9): 20 Sept 2017 (s 2(1) item 4) | -- | |
164, 2015 | 2 Dec 2015 | Sch 2 (items 5, 80): 1 July 2016 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 2 (item 80) | |
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2016 | 4, 2016 | 11 Feb 2016 | Sch 4 (items 1, 20, 336): 10 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 6) | -- |
National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018 | 67, 2018 | 29 June 2018 | Sch 2 (item 9): 29 Dec 2018 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- |
130, 2018 | 25 Oct 2018 | Sch 2 (items 1-14): 25 Apr 2019 (s 2(1) item 3) | Sch 2 (item 14) and Sch 2 (item 18) | |
Office of National Intelligence (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018 | 156, 2018 | 10 Dec 2018 | Sch 2 (item 15) and Sch 4: 20 Dec 2018 (s 2(1) items 2, 4) | Sch 4 |
13, 2021 | 1 Mar 2021 | Sch 2 (item 71): 1 Sept 2021 (s 2(1) item 5) | -- | |
34, 2021 | 16 May 2021 | Sch 1 (items 1-5): 17 May 2021 (s 2(1) item 1) | -- | |
National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2022 | 89, 2022 | 12 Dec 2022 | Sch 1 (item 11): 1 July 2023 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Act 2023 | 53, 2023 | 11 Aug 2023 | Sch 1 (items 31, 32, 35): 12 Aug 2023 (s 2(1) item 1) | Sch 1 (item 35) |
70, 2023 | 19 Sept 2023 | Sch 1 (items 1-7): 1 Oct 2023 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- | |
National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 3) Act 2024 | 24, 2024 | 21 May 2024 | Sch 2 (items 33-38): 22 May 2024 (s 2(1) item 7) | -- |
Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Act 2024 | 38, 2024 | 31 May 2024 | Sch 4 (items 1-12): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 2) | -- |
86, 2024 | 17 Sept 2024 | Sch 1 (items 4, 5): 14 Oct 2024 (s 2(1) item 3) | -- |
Provision affected | How affected |
Part I |
|
s 2A.................... | ad No 113, 2008 |
s 3..................... | am No 109, 1988; No 80, 1990; No 196, 1992; No 33, 1994; No 10, 1995; No 189, 1997 (as am by No 145, 1999); No 146, 1999; No 30, 2000; No 5, 2001; No 135, 2003; No 10, 2006; No 158, 2007; No 113, 2008; No 102, 2009; No 51, 2010; No 46, 2011; No 149, 2012; No 31, 2014; No 59, 2015; No 62, 2015; No 164, 2015; No 130, 2018; No 34, 2021; No 70, 2023; No 24, 2024; No 38, 2024; No 86, 2024 |
s 3A.................... | ad No 10, 1995 |
s 3B.................... | ad No 10, 1995 |
s 3C.................... | ad No 113, 2008 |
| am No 46, 2011 |
s 4A.................... | ad No 5, 2001 |
Part II |
|
Part II heading............. | rs No 30, 2000 |
s 5..................... | am No 30, 2000; No 113, 2008; No 62, 2014 |
s 6..................... | am No 109, 1988; No 113, 2008 |
s 6A.................... | ad No 113, 2008 |
Part III |
|
s 7..................... | am No 43, 1996; No 146, 1999; No 30, 2000 |
s 8..................... | am No 43, 1996 |
s 9..................... | am No 146, 1999 |
Part IV |
|
Part IV heading............. | rs No 30, 2000 |
s 10.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 30, 2000 |
s 12.................... | am No 31, 2014 |
s 13.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
s 14.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
s 15.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
s 16.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
s 17.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 31, 2014; No 130, 2018 |
Part V |
|
Division 1 |
|
s 22.................... | am No 158, 2007; No 113, 2008; No 102, 2009; No 62, 2015 |
s 22A................... | ad No 33, 1994 |
| am No 51, 2010 |
s 22B................... | ad No 30, 2000 |
| rs No 10, 2006 |
s 22C................... | ad No 34, 2021 |
| am No 70, 2023 |
s 23.................... | am No 109, 1988; No 59, 2015 |
Division 2 |
|
s 24.................... | am No 30, 2000; No 5, 2001; No 113, 2008 |
s 26.................... | am No 76, 1986; No 5, 2001; No 51, 2010; No 4, 2016 |
s 27.................... | rs No 113, 2008 |
| am No 51, 2010 |
s 28.................... | am No 113, 2008 |
s 28A................... | ad No 10, 1995 |
s 29.................... | am No 102, 1986; No 75, 1990; No 10, 1995; No 43, 1996; No 161, 1999; No 128, 2005; No 113, 2008; No 99, 2009; No 108, 2014; No 156, 2018; No 24, 2024 |
s 30.................... | rs No 113, 2008 |
| am No 51, 2010 |
s 30A................... | ad No 30, 2000 |
| am No 10, 2006; No 67, 2018 |
Division 3 |
|
s 31.................... | am No 113, 2008 |
s 32.................... | am No 109, 1988 |
s 33.................... | am No 109, 1988; No 10, 1995; No 43, 1996; No 125, 2002; No 86, 2006; No 51, 2010; No 89, 2022; No 24, 2024 |
s 34.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 146, 1999 |
| rep No 99, 2009 |
s 35.................... | am No 113, 2008 |
s 36.................... | am No 109, 1988; No 180, 1991; No 43, 1996 |
s 39.................... | am No 24, 2024 |
s 40.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 130, 2018 |
s 40A................... | ad No 130, 2018 |
s 40B................... | ad No 130, 2018 |
Division 4 |
|
s 41.................... | rep No 99, 2009 |
s 42.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 130, 2018 |
s 43.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 130, 2018; No 38, 2024 |
s 44.................... | am No 165, 1984; No 99, 2009 |
s 45.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
| rep No 99, 2009 |
s 46.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 99, 2009 |
| rs No 60, 2015 |
| rep No 53, 2023 |
s 47.................... | am No 10, 1995; No 43, 1996; No 9, 2000 |
| rep No 99, 2009 |
s 48.................... | am No 38, 2005 |
| rs No 60, 2015 |
| rep No 53, 2023 |
s 49.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
| rep No 99, 2009 |
s 50.................... | rs No 99, 2009; No 38, 2024 |
s 50A................... | ad No 99, 2009 |
| am No 51, 2010; No 53, 2023 |
s 52.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 99, 2009; No 60, 2015; No 38, 2024 |
s 53.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 194, 1999; No 99, 2009; No 13, 2013; No 60, 2015; No 13, 2021; No 38, 2024 |
s 54.................... | rep No 99, 2009 |
s 55A................... | ad No 99, 2009 |
| am No 13, 2013; No 13, 2021; No 38, 2024 |
Division 5 |
|
s 56.................... | am No 76, 1986; No 43, 1996; No 5, 2001; No 4, 2016 |
s 57.................... | am No 38, 1988; No 4, 2016 |
s 58.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
Part VI |
|
Part VI heading............. | rs No 113, 2008 |
s 61.................... | am No 43, 1996; No 5, 2001 |
| rep No 113, 2008 |
s 62.................... | am No 126, 1988; No 113, 2008 |
Part VII |
|
s 64.................... | am No 113, 2008 |
Part VIII................. | rep No 130, 2018 |
s 65.................... | rep No 130, 2018 |
s 66.................... | am No 38, 1988; No 99, 2009 |
| rep No 130, 2018 |
s 67.................... | rep No 130, 2018 |
Part IX |
|
s 68.................... | am No 43, 1996 |
| rs No 62, 2014 |
s 69.................... | am No 113, 2008 |
| ed C43 |
s 69A................... | ad No 80, 1990 |
s 71.................... | am No 165, 1984; No 80, 1990 |