On 20 February 2020, the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP announced the establishment of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.

In response to the establishment of the Royal Commission, the National Archives issued a Commonwealth wide records disposal freeze notice on 5 May 2020. 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 required by the Royal Commission.

Further information is available in the Notice of Disposal Freeze - Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (PDF 170KB).

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

If you believe your agency may hold records covered by the retention notice, please contact the National Archives for more information via the Agency Service Centre.