A WA parliamentary question highlights the inability of government agencies to transfer archives to the State Records Office since 2001, raising concerns about reporting accuracy and potential censorship. The government acknowledges the space issue and is reviewing options for a new repository.

AnsweredQoN 565Legislative Council
Asked
14 August 2007
Portfolio
Arts

QuestionView source ↗

STATE RECORDS OFFICE - ARCHIVES
This question was first forwarded to the minister on 28 June. (1) Is the minister aware that government agencies have been unable to transfer archives in their possession to the State Records Office of Western Australia since July 2001? (2) Does the minister agree that this is an impediment to accurate reporting and a form of censorship to researchers, historians and journalists presenting the truth? (3) Has a business case for a new archival repository been prepared? (4) If yes to (3), when will the government fund a solution to this obvious deficiency? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash) : I give the call to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts. If Hon Murray Criddle’s question (2) is not seeking an opinion, perhaps Hon Murray Criddle has not been in this place for a long time. Hon ADELE FARINA

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(1) Is the minister aware that government agencies have been unable to transfer archives in their possession to the State Records Office of Western Australia since July 2001? (2) Does the minister agree that this is an impediment to accurate reporting and a form of censorship to researchers, historians and journalists presenting the truth? (3) Has a business case for a new archival repository been prepared? (4) If yes to (3), when will the government fund a solution to this obvious deficiency? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash) : I give the call to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts. If Hon Murray Criddle’s question (2) is not seeking an opinion, perhaps Hon Murray Criddle has not been in this place for a long time. Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(2) Does the minister agree that this is an impediment to accurate reporting and a form of censorship to researchers, historians and journalists presenting the truth? (3) Has a business case for a new archival repository been prepared? (4) If yes to (3), when will the government fund a solution to this obvious deficiency? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash) : I give the call to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts. If Hon Murray Criddle’s question (2) is not seeking an opinion, perhaps Hon Murray Criddle has not been in this place for a long time. Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(3) Has a business case for a new archival repository been prepared? (4) If yes to (3), when will the government fund a solution to this obvious deficiency? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash) : I give the call to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts. If Hon Murray Criddle’s question (2) is not seeking an opinion, perhaps Hon Murray Criddle has not been in this place for a long time. Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(4) If yes to (3), when will the government fund a solution to this obvious deficiency? The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash) : I give the call to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts. If Hon Murray Criddle’s question (2) is not seeking an opinion, perhaps Hon Murray Criddle has not been in this place for a long time. Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash) : I give the call to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts. If Hon Murray Criddle’s question (2) is not seeking an opinion, perhaps Hon Murray Criddle has not been in this place for a long time. Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(1) The minister advises that she is aware of the lack of space centrally for storage. (2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(2) No. Until records are accepted into the state archive, they are required to be kept by agencies according to the directions given by the Director of State Records. Documents are released according to the individual record-keeping plan of the agency. (3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(3) Yes. A business case for a new archive repository has been prepared and the minister has requested the Director General of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Director of State Records to review the business case and provide further options for consideration. (4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.
(4) When the material is provided by the department and the State Records Office, the government will be in a position to consider the most practical and cost-efficient solution.

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