❓ A Member of Parliament questions Landgate's fees for accessing historical records and seeks assurance regarding their preservation, particularly in the event of Landgate's sale. The Minister defends the current fee structure based on existing legislation and provides a non-committal response regarding the future of Landgate.
AnsweredQoN 3087Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Are historical records held by Landgate State Archives pursuant to the State Records Act 2000 ("Act") and if not, why not? (2) Given that the spirit of the Act is to provide free public access to State archives, why does Landgate charge for access to historical records? (3) Will you commit to a review of these fees, with a view to remove the costs associated with inspecting historical records? (4) Will ensure that all digitised records of Landgate which are considered "State Archives" to be made available to search for free in the State Records Office search room? (5) Will you guarantee that prior to any sale of Landgate, that all historical records and state archives will be appropriately transferred to the State Records Office and if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 June 2018
Responded by
Minister for Transport; Planning; Lands
Response time
9 days
(1)-(2) The Transfer of Land Act 1893 (the Act) is the relevant legislation which determines public access to records held by Landgate. This act also determines the prescribed fees for accessing any State records. There is no expectation arising from the State Records Act 2000 or from the past practice from Landgate or its predecessors that access would be provided to records for free.
(3) As per the Act , Landgate is required to review all fees and charges relating to the Act annually.
(4) Landgate will continue to retain any digitised records and make them available to the public as required by the Act for a fee.
(5) No decision on the future of Landgate has been made. Protecting the State’s assets, including historical records, will be a key consideration of any decision.
(3) As per the Act , Landgate is required to review all fees and charges relating to the Act annually.
(4) Landgate will continue to retain any digitised records and make them available to the public as required by the Act for a fee.
(5) No decision on the future of Landgate has been made. Protecting the State’s assets, including historical records, will be a key consideration of any decision.
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