Types of records authorities

The three usual types of records disposal authorities issued by National Archives for Australian Government agencies are:

Agencies can use all three types of authorities to perform accountable disposal of records (including data).

Agency-specific records authorities

An agency-specific records authority covers the records an agency creates in relation to its unique business functions.

General records authorities (GRAs)

The National Archives issues general records authorities (GRAs) to authorise the disposal of information and records of administrative and supporting business activities and responsibilities common to all or most Australian Government agencies.

View the current set of Australian Government GRAs below by their title or number.

Records authorities issued between 2008 – 2010 identified with an * have a separate section 3C determination (2024/00633840, R758212024) under the Archives Act 1983. Please contact the Agency Service Centre if you would like to request a copy of this determination.

AFDA Express Version 2

AFDA Express Version 2 is the GRA for a range of common administrative functions.

It sets out requirements for keeping or destroying records of administrative business performed by most Australian Government agencies. This includes functions such as:

  • finance
  • human resources
  • procurement
  • publications management

It replaced previous versions of the Administrative Functions Disposal Authority (AFDA) and AFDA Express on 1 July 2019. You cannot use those versions to sentence records anymore.

Note: See also – AFDA Express Version 2 Implementation Guideline: records relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Multi-agency government functions records authorities

The National Archives also issues multi-agency government functions records authorities to cover core business functions shared by multiple agencies.

Agencies must opt in and be authorised by the National Archives to use any of these records authorities. Once authorised, agencies will be listed in the tables below. If your agency would like to opt in to use these records authorities, please contact the Agency Service Centre.

COVID-19 recordkeeping

Find out about managing records relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.