In 1980 McMillan and Co, the law firm representing the Vietnam Veterans Action Association, wrote to the Prime Minister urging the preservation of all records that may pertain to the Vietnam War and persons who served in it. In response, the government issued a directive for a records disposal freeze on all records relating to the service in Vietnam of servicemen and public servants.

In particular, but not exclusively, the freeze covers records relevant to the study into the effects of herbicides and other chemicals on those who served in Vietnam. The freeze is not limited to particular types of records such as personal case files and applies to all types of records that may be relevant to future claims against the Commonwealth.