Content of the Register

The Register of Access Directions details the:

• scope of the records covered by a direction
• direction - open, closed or early access
• duration of closed to public access directions
• reasons given for a closed to public access direction
• public office responsible for the direction
• Principal Department for the public office

Previous access conditions made under the Archives Act 1960 that have been converted to access directions are not included in this register. A listing of past and continuing access conditions is available in the reading room.

Background

Public offices are required to make access directions for all their records more than 30 years old.  An access direction is a direction that a series, group or class of records is open to public access after 30 years or closed to public access for a longer period of time to protect sensitive information.  Records can also be made publicly available before they are 30 years old under an early access authorisation.  Records available as open access information or proactivley released under the Government information (Public Access) Act 2009 should also be be authorised for early access under the State Records Act 1998.

More information for public offices on the making of access directions and the public access provisions of the State Records Act can be found at Public access to State records

More information on an individual's rights of access can be found in the Access to the Records Guide.

The Register of Access Directions was last updated in November 2020.

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