Commonwealth Numbered Acts

Archives Act 1983 No. 79 of 1983 - SECT 5

PART II-ESTABLISHMENT, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN
ARCHIVES

5. (1) There shall be, within the Department, an organization by the name of
the Australian Archives.

(2) The functions of the Australian Archives are, subject to this Act-

   (a)  to ensure the conservation and preservation of the existing and future
        archival resources of the Commonwealth;

   (b)  to encourage and foster the preservation of all other archival
        resources relating to Australia;

   (c)  to promote, by providing advice and other assistance to
        Commonwealth institutions, the keeping of current Commonwealth records
        in an efficient and economical manner and in a manner that will
        facilitate their use as part of the archival resources of the
        Commonwealth;

   (d)  to ascertain the material that constitutes the archival resources of
        the Commonwealth;

   (e)  to have the custody and management of Commonwealth records, other than
        current Commonwealth records, that-

        (i)    are part of the archival resources of the Commonwealth;

        (ii)   ought to be examined to ascertain whether they are part of
               those archival resources; or

        (iii)  although they are not part of those archival resources, are
               required to be permanently or temporarily preserved;

   (f)  to seek to obtain, and to have the custody and management of, material
        (including Commonwealth records) not in the custody of a Commonwealth
        institution, that forms part of the archival resources of the
        Commonwealth and, in the opinion of the Director-General, ought to be
        in the custody of the Archives;

   (g)  with the approval of the Minister, to accept and have the custody and
        management of material that, though not part of the archival resources
        of the Commonwealth, forms part of archival resources relating to
        Australia and, in the opinion of the Minister, ought to be in the
        custody of the Archives in order to ensure its preservation or for any
        other reason;

   (h)  to encourage, facilitate, publicise and sponsor the use of archival
        material;

   (j)  to make Commonwealth records available for public access in accordance
        with this Act and to take part in arrangements for other access to
        Commonwealth records;

   (k)  to conduct research, and provide advice, in relation to the management
        and preservation of records and other archival material;

   (l)  to develop and foster the co-ordination of activities relating to the
        preservation and use of the archival resources of the Commonwealth and
        other archival resources relating to Australia; and

   (m)  with the approval of the Minister, and in accordance with arrangements
        made with a person responsible for exempt material, to perform any of
        the foregoing functions in relation to that material as if that
        material formed part of the archival resources of the Commonwealth.

(3) Nothing in this Part derogates from the powers and functions of the Public
Service Board or any other Commonwealth institution in relation to the keeping
of current Commonwealth records.