Types of records authorities

The two common types of records authorities for Australian Government agencies are:

Use both types of authorities to perform accountable disposal of your agency’s business information and records.

Agency-specific records authorities

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

General records authorities

The National Archives issues general records authorities (GRAs) to authorise the disposal of information and records of administrative business activities and responsibilities common to many Australian Government agencies. They set out the requirements for:

  • keeping records
  • destroying records
  • transferring records

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

General records authorities for common business activities

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 authorised version of the Administrative Functions Disposal Authority (AFDA).

It replaced previous versions of AFDA and AFDA Express on 1 July 2019.

You cannot use those versions to sentence records anymore.

AFDA Express Version 2 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

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

COVID-19 recordkeeping

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