WoAG information management policy released

The National Archives of Australia has released a new whole-of-government information management policy aimed at helping federal agencies meet their obligations under the Archives Act 1983.

The new ‘Building trust in the public record’ policy identifies the key requirements for continuous improvement in how the Australian Government manages its records, information and data — complete with supporting actions for agencies to take.

The policy is also designed to support agendas including the digital transformation of government, Australian Public Service reform and maximising the use of Australian Government data.

The new policy will take effect from 1 January and remain in place until 2025. The National Archives is developing and plans to progressively release a range of tools and supporting advice for agencies during this policy period.

According to National Archives Director General David Fricker, the policy is aimed at ensuring that the government and citizens have a public record that can be trusted for all current and future uses.

“The policy maintains a strong emphasis on governance, fit-for-purpose information management systems and practices, and reducing information management inefficiency and risk,” he said.

“These objectives are critical to ensuring public resources are managed effectively, improving service delivery and customer service outcomes, and enabling evidentiary and accountability obligations to be met.”

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