2011/00064423

Records damaged beyond recovery in a natural disaster, a defined emergency or other unforeseen circumstance

February 2011

This is an accurate reproduction of the authorised records authority content, created for accessibility purposes.

Introduction

The National Archives of Australia has developed this Records Authority to set out the requirements for emergency destruction of records damaged beyond recovery in a natural disaster, a defined emergency or other unforeseen circumstance.

Agencies that have records damaged in these circumstances must notify the Archives as soon as possible after the records are damaged. This authority outlines the information that agencies must provide so that the Archives are informed of the circumstances.

Records that pose a health hazard may need to be destroyed before the Archives is advised.

Exclusion

This authority cannot be used to account for the damage or destruction of records resulting from negligent actions or inaction by the agency.

Application of this Authority

For the purposes of this authority, 'records damaged beyond recovery' is taken to mean that the records are still in existence but have been reduced to a state that makes their recovery impractical, uneconomic or hazardous to health or safety.

When assessing the possibility of recovering the records it is important to consider their value to the agency and as potential archival resources of the Commonwealth. A longer retention requirement strengthens the case for recovery action. If Retain as National Archives (RNA or RP) records are damaged but may still be recovered, agencies should contact the Archives before destroying the records.

The Australian Emergency Management Glossary, Manual 3, 1998, Australian Emergency Manual series defines 'disaster' and 'emergency' as follows:

Disaster

'A serious disruption to community life which threatens or causes death or injury in that community and/or damage to property which is beyond the day-to-day capacity of the prescribed statutory authorities and which requires special mobilisation and organisation of resources other than those normally available to those authorities.'

Emergency

'An event, actual or imminent, which endangers or threatens to endanger life, property or the environment, and which requires a significant and coordinated response.'

This includes natural, technological and human-caused events. These events are likely to include:

• significant damage to property, infrastructure, agriculture or the environment;
• or disruption to essential services, commerce or industry;
• or trauma or dislocation of the community at an estimated total cost of A$10 million or more.

Other Circumstances

Other circumstances in which records might be damaged beyond recovery include but are not limited to:

• building fires
• burst water pipes or fire suppression systems
• malicious damage

Information to be provided to the National Archives of Australia

Agencies must provide corroborative information to the Archives when using this authority. This should include:

• A description of the circumstances causing damage to the records
• A description of the scope of the records damaged - general description of what the records covered and the number or volume of records affected
• The value of records – are the records covered by a records authority? What is the expected retention period? Would the cost of recovery be justified by the value of the records?
• OH&S considerations for recovery purposes – are the records contaminated or perhaps inaccessible because of building instability
• Evidence of circumstances, damage and OH&S considerations. This may be provided in the form of reports from building inspectors, independent advice about the potential archival value of the records, OH&S or public health inspectors, or photographic records.
• A statement by the agency head or Senior Executive Service officer responsible for the records that they are aware of the circumstances and confirm that the records are beyond recovery.
• If the records have been totally destroyed in any of the circumstances described above, making the gathering of more detailed information impossible, a statement by the agency head or Senior Executive Service officer is acceptable to confirm to the Archives that the records have been destroyed.

Contact Information

For assistance with this authority or for advice on other records management matters, please contact National Archives' Agency Service Centre.

Queen Victoria Terrace

Parkes ACT 2600

PO Box 7425

Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610

Email: information.management@naa.gov.au

Website: www.naa.gov.au

Authorisation

Person to whom notice of authorisation is given:

Heads of Commonwealth Institutions under the Archives Act 1983.

Purpose:

Authorises arrangements for the disposal of records in accordance with section 24(2)(b) of the Archives Act 1983.

Determines records classed as ‘Retain as national archives’ in this Records Authority to be part of the archival resources of the Commonwealth under section 3C of the Archives Act.

Application:

Records damaged beyond recovery in a natural disaster, a defined emergency or other unforeseen circumstance

This authority gives permission for the alteration of the records described. This authority will apply only with the consent of the agency currently responsible for the business documented in the records described.

Authorised by:

Ross Gibbs

Director-General

National Archives of Australia

28 February 2011

Classes

Records damaged beyond recovery in a natural disaster, a defined emergency or other unforeseen circumstance

Downloads

• General Disposal Authority 30: Records damaged beyond recovery in a natural disaster, a defined emergency or other unforeseen circumstance (pdf, 183kb)
• General Disposal Authority 30: Records damaged beyond recovery in a natural disaster, a defined emergency or other unforeseen circumstance (doc, 312kb)