New Australian information standard launched

The National Archives of Australia has launched a new government standard for creating and managing the government’s growing business information.

The new Information Management Standard outlines a set of principles to help provide the foundation for well-managed business information.

Principles include a stipulation that business information is systematically governed, adequately described and suitably stored and preserved. Agencies should know how long business information is kept and ensure it is accountably destroyed and transferred after this period.

The standard also stipulates that business information should be saved in systems where it can be appropriately managed, and be available for use and re-use.

The National Archives plans to regularly review how agencies are performing against the new standard as part of its routine evaluation Australian Government information management environment.

“Recent government inquiries including into the Home Insulation Program and Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse have highlighted the need to keep evidence of government decisions and interactions, and the importance of this personal information to the individuals involved,” National Archives Director-General David Fricker said.

“The Information Management Standard sets a firm foundation for agencies so they can plan for, conduct and monitor their information management practices. The standard also provides a basis for agencies and the Archives to review their performance.”

Fricker said the standard is consistent with the recent ISO standard on records management and applies to both digital and analog information.

“Information can be created anywhere, anytime and through a variety of means including social media and email,” he said.

“With that in mind, this standard outlines the need for business information to be created, kept and managed appropriately, and to ensure key government deliberations and decisions are documented to support robust advice, sound business process and open and accountable government.”

The National Archives has separately used the launch of Information Awareness Month yesterday to promote the agency’s goal of ensuring that all agencies have a chief information governance officer by 2020.

Fricker said there is a critical need for executive-level involvement in information governance.

“Information and data professionals across the country are enabling Australia’s digital agenda. If we truly value information and data as assets, we need to value the professionals who manage them,” he said.

“'The chief information governance officer role is critical for digital innovation and capability, and for championing the importance of effective information management.”

At the launch, Information Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim presented the Archives’ Digital Excellence Awards for 2017.

The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science won in the Large Agency category for its user-centric approach to digital documents management. Geoscience Australia won the medium agency category award for its National Offshore Petroleum Information Management System.

The inaugural Individual Information Professional award went to Rebecca Lee from the Department of Industry Innovation and Science, while commendations were awarded to Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Pictured: National Archives of Australia Director-General David Fricker. Courtesy NAA.

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