On 5 April 2019, the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, and Minister for Families and Social Services, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, announced the establishment of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

In response to the establishment of the Royal Commission, the National Archives issued a records disposal freeze notice to all Australian Government agencies on 21 June 2019. The notice suspends National Archives' permissions for the destruction of records that may be required by the Royal Commission and any consequent Government action. It will remain in force until otherwise advised by the National Archives.

Relevant records and any associated drafts and working papers cannot be destroyed using any agency-specific or general records authorities or through a normal administrative practice (NAP). General Records Authority 31 may be used to destroy digitised source records if the Royal Commission requires the production of records in digital format.

Further information is available in the Notice of Disposal Freeze – Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (doc, 118kB).

All Australian Government agencies are required by law to protect any relevant records subject to this notice from destruction.