The new Public Records Act 2023 (the Act) was passed by the Queensland Parliament in late November 2023 and will commence by proclamation on 5 December 2024. In the meantime, the Public Records Act 2002 continues to apply.
What to do to prepare?
To prepare for the Public Records Act 2023 commencement on 5 December, it is recommended that public authorities:
- Continue to comply with the Records governance policy and Public Records Act 2002 until the new mandatory standards are issued
- Continue to comply with the Ministerial records policy (for Ministers and Assistant Ministers only)
- Ensure that the delegate details for making decisions to access restricted records in QSA custody are up to date
- Ensure delegates understand the new requirements relating to access requests, including the need to make access decisions within 35 business days
- Ensure delegates understand potential reviews of access decisions may be referred by either the State Archivist or their public authority to the Public Records Review Committee where agreement on access cannot be reached
- Review and prepare to update information to reflect the new Public Records Act 2023 on your public authority’s website, training and other information
- Get involved in QSAs information and consultation sessions, including webinars about the implementation of the Act
- Keep an eye out for emails from QSA (for public authority executives, chief information officers and records/information managers). You can update your public authority’s contacts via public authority executive contact list and records management contact list
- Keep up to date by subscribing to QSA newsletter
- If you haven’t already, please familiarise yourself with the Public Records Act 2023.
All the provisions in the Public Records Act 2023 commence on 5 December 2024.
While all public authorities must comply with the requirements of the new Act, the State Archivist will not immediately issue specific mandatory standards. Instead, QSA is developing key mandatory standards and accompanying guidelines and will be consulting with public authorities on those documents in late 2024 and 2025. Mandatory standards are not anticipated to commence until after mid-2025.
The existing Records governance policy will continue to apply until the mandatory standards are issued by the State Archivist.
GovernX Group is here to assist your organisation in ensuring compliance with the new Public Records Act 2023. Our team of experts can guide you through the preparation process, help update your record-keeping procedures, and ensure your staff is trained to meet the new requirements.
