Under the State Records Act 1998, the Board is an Advisory Board with the following functions:
- determining the policies and strategic plans of SARA
- granting approvals for the purposes of sections 13 (Standards and codes of best practice for records management) and 21 (Protection measures) of the Act.
Board Members
The Board members represent parliament, the judiciary, government/state owned corporations, local government, the private sector and the history profession. Appointment is for a term of up to three years and members may not hold office for more than two consecutive terms.
The Board meets every two months to assess, review and provide comment/approval of various policies, processes, Standards, codes and disposal of records to ensure that these meet the requirements under the State Records Act 1998.
Section 69 of the State Records Act 1998 provides for a nine-member Board of whom:
- four are to be persons nominated by the Minister who administers the State Records Act 1998, to represent state law enforcement agencies, local government, the private sector, and the history profession
- two are to be nominated by the Minister who administers the Government Sector Employment Act 2013, to represent Public Service agencies
- one is to be nominated by the Minister who administers the State Owned Corporations Act 1989, to represent State owned corporations
- one is to be a member or officer of either House of Parliament nominated jointly by the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- one is to be a judge of a court of the State nominated by the Chief Justice of New South Wales.
One of the members is to be appointed Chairperson of the Board and the members of the Board may elect a Deputy Chairperson.
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Dr Brian Lindsay (Chair) Representing the History profession |
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Ms Elizabeth Tydd Representing Public Service Agencies |
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Mr Scott Johnston Representing Public Service Agencies |
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Hon. Justice Geoff Lindsay Representing the State's courts |
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Mr Jeffrey Greenwood Representing the State's law enforcement agencies |
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Mr Rodney Wallis Representing the Private sector |
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Cr David Walton Representing Local Government |
Decision Making
The Board makes decisions which are not reviewable. Pursuant to s.70 of the State Records Act 1998, the Board has the function of determining the policies and strategic plans of NSW State Archives; and the function of granting approvals for Standards and Codes of best practice for records management and for giving permission or approval for the disposal of NSW State Archives (including destruction, transfer of ownership and also the identification of records to be retained as State archives).
Reporting line
The Board reports directly to the Minister.
Board Charter
The NSW Boards and Committees Guidelines prepared by the Department of Premier and Cabinet state that a Board Charter is not needed if the Board’s operations are covered by establishing legislation for the Board or Committee (Section 3.1). In the case of the Board of the State Archives and Records Authority of NSW, the Board’s operations are covered by the State Records Act 1998.
Part 7 of the State Records Act 1998 deals with the Board as follows:
- Section 69 Establishment of the Board;
- Section 70 Functions of the Board; and
- Section 71 Director may attend meetings of the Board.
Schedule 2 of the State Records Act lists the provisions relating to the constitution and procedure of the Board.
Board Appointments
- All appointments must follow the Public Service Commissioner’s Appointment Standards: Boards and Committees in the NSW Public Sector.
- Decisions about the remuneration of individual boards and committees are guided by the Classification and Remuneration Framework for NSW Government Boards and Committees(the Framework) as announced in Premier’s Memorandum 2012-18
- The Department of Premier & Cabinet provides guidance on NSW Boards and Committees at www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/programs-and-services/boards-and-committees/.