The Attorney-General’s Department has released the official response to David Tune’s Review of the National Archives of Australia which led to the archives’ funding increase of $67 million.
Attorney-General, Senator Michaelia Cash said the Review, The Functional and Efficiency Review of the National Archives of Australia, focused on enhancing the Archives’ capabilities into the future and made 20 recommendations.
“Government has agreed in full or in principle to all recommendations of the Review, and outlined a reform package to ensure the National Archives can undertake its vital work in the 21st Century,” Senator Cash said.
“The response notes where implementation of the Review’s recommendations will involve an alternative approach or require a final business case to effect long-term, systemic changes as part of future budget processes,” she said.
Senator Cash said the Review response would support efforts to secure the future of the National Archives and ensure records vital to Australia’s history were preserved and made more readily available.
“It will allow future generations to learn from our history, so their contributions to our nation’s story are informed by the challenges and triumphs of the past,” she said.
Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General, Amanda Stoker said the implementation of Review recommendations was the next step in the Agency’s journey to stay contemporary in the digital era.
Senator Stoker said the $67 million allocation to the Archive would go towards digitisation and preservation of the National Archives’ at-risk collection; additional staffing; investment in cyber security; and further development of the National Archives’ Next Generation Digital Archive.
The PS News report of Mr Tune’s review, including his 109-page Report, can be accessed at this PS News link and the official 19-page Response can be accessed at this link.
