PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 2002 - As at 1 March 2023 - Act 11 of 2002

Table of Provisions

• Long Title

PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

• 1 Short title
• 2 Commencement
• 3 Purposes
• 4 Definitions
• 5 Act binds the State

PART 2 - PUBLIC RECORDS

Division 1 - Preliminary

• 6 What is a public record

Division 2 - Making, managing, keeping and preserving public records

• 7 Making and keeping of public records
• 8 Custody and preservation of public records
• 9 Ownership of public records
• 10 Public records more than 25 years old
• 11 Transfer of other public records to archives
• 12 Special protection of public records over 30 years old
• 13 Disposal of public records
• 14 Public authority must ensure particular records remain accessible

Division 3 - Access to public records

• 15 Meaning of responsible public authority
• 16 Meaning of restricted access period
• 17 Application for access to public records
• 18 Public access to public records
• 19 Reviewing and changing responsible public authority’s notice about access
• 20 Forms of access

PART 3 - STATE ARCHIVIST AND QUEENSLAND STATE ARCHIVES

Division 1 - General

• 21 State Archivist and Queensland State Archives
• 22 Appointment of archivist and staff
• 23 Control of the archives

Division 2 - Functions and powers

• 24 Functions of archivist
• 25 Powers of archivist
• 26 Archivist may authorise disposal of public records
• 27 Independence in relation to disposal decisions
• 28 Arrangements for storage of records outside archives

Division 3 - Public Records Review Committee

• 29 Public Records Review Committee
• 30 Chairperson
• 31 Term of office for committee members
• 32 Resignation
Subdivision 2 - Committee proceedings
• 33 Time and place of meetings
• 34 Conduct of proceedings
• 35 Participation in meetings by telephone etc.
• 36 Minutes
• 37 Committee member’s duty about committee’s deliberations
• 38 Archivist may attend committee meetings
Subdivision 3 - Committee’s review of archivist’s decisions
• 39 Application for review of archivist’s decision about disposal
• 40 Archivist to provide reasons
• 41 Decision by committee

Division 4 - Miscellaneous

• 42 Delegation

PART 4 - POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT

Division 1 - Authorised officers

• 43 Appointment of authorised officer
• 44 Identity card
• 45 Production or display of authorised officer’s identity card

Division 2 - General powers

• 46 Power of entry and inspection
• 47 Public authority to comply with request
• 48 Obstruction of authorised officer

Division 3 - Specific powers

• 49 Recovery of public records
• 50 Reciprocal agreements

PART 5 - MISCELLANEOUS

• 51 Secrecy provisions in other laws
• 52 Application of Act to certain of Governor’s records
• 53 Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence
• 54 Protection from civil liability
• 55 Evidence in legal proceedings
• 56 Annual report
• 57 Regulation-making power
• 58 Libraries and Archives Act 1988 references

PART 6 - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Division 1 - Transitional provisions for Public Records Act 2002

• 59 State Archivist to continue in position
• 60 Notice for recovery of public records
• 61 Existing notices about access to public records

Division 2 - Transitional provisions for Information Privacy Act 2009 and Right to Information Act 2009

• 62 Omitted references to Freedom of Information Act 1992
• 62A Establishing restricted access period for record made before commencement

Division 3 - Transitional provisions for Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011

• 62B Definitions
• 62C Responsible public authority for public record

PART 7 - VALIDATION PROVISION

• 63 Validation of certain actions
• SCHEDULE 2