The Archives Act 1983 provides for the management of Commonwealth records. In brief, the Archives Act:
• regulates the disposal of Commonwealth records
• requires agencies to transfer their records to the National Archives of Australia when they are no longer required by the agency or they are more than 25 years old, and
• establishes a general right of public access (from the Archives) to records that are more than 30 years old.
The National Archives of Australia has issued a number of advices including guidance relating to recordkeeping responsibilities when the delivery of services is outsourced.