RECORDS MANAGEMENT REVIEW TO STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY

The ACT Government is inviting the community to share their views on access to Government archives and records as part of its commitment to strengthening accountability and open Governance, Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, said today.

Mr Stanhope said the review of the Territory Records Act 2002 was a requirement in the legislation to ensure it was meeting the community's expectations about records management and access to archives within government agencies.

He said the Government had appointed an experienced archivist, Mr Paul Macpherson, to undertake the review and would report back to the Assembly on its findings by July 2010.

"The Act was introduced by the ACT Labor Government to give confidence to the community that government records would be open and accessible," Mr Stanhope said. "Sound records management is an important component of an open and accountable Government.

"The Government has commenced a review of the Act to ensure it is working to its true intent. I encourage everyone with an interest in records management and Government archives to participate in the review by attending the upcoming consultation session."

The ACT Labor Government introduced the Act in 2002, following a commitment by Mr Stanhope in 2001 that government records would be properly kept and that new standards for records management would be introduced across Government agencies.

The Act established a Territory Records Advisory Council and a new position of Director of Territory Records who was tasked with setting the standards for record management in agencies.

The Act was closely aligned to the Freedom of Information Act 1989 in that it allowed records to be accessed by the public after 20 years, except where the records contained information of a private and personal nature.

Interested members of the community can participate in the review by attending the consultation session on Thursday 4 February 2010 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Saunders room, Canberra Services Club, corner of Canberra Avenue and Manuka Circle. Representatives from the Territory Records Advisory Council, the Territory Records Office and Mr Macpherson will be present to discuss the review. For more information contact Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.
Media Contact:

John Schalch
62058500
0434 667 317
john.schalch@act.gov.au

Or

Jess Wurf
6205 0504
0411 772 700
jess.wurf@act.gov.au