On 5 March 2021 the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, announced the establishment of the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. The Review is being conducted by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.

In response, on 9 June 2021 the National Archives issued a targeted records retention notice covering Records related to the culture in the workplaces of Parliamentarians and their staff.

The notice suspends National Archives' permissions for the destruction of records that may be required by Commissioner Jenkins and for 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 may not be destroyed using any agency-specific or general records authorities or through a normal administrative practice (NAP).

Further information is available in the records retention notice (pdf, 307kB).

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

Note that this retention notice does not preclude an agency's use of General Records Authority 31 subject to the Conditions and Exclusions specified within General Records Authority 31 and due consideration by the agency of the potential need for original records to be retained for the purposes of the Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces.

Any questions in relation to the records retention notice may be directed to the National Archives via the Agency Service Centre.