Records disposal freezes

Records disposal freeze policy for NT public sector organisations PDF (178.0 KB) outlines the conditions under which a disposal freeze may be invoked.

The Records Disposal Freeze Policy for NT Public Sector Organisations (issued by the NTAS and the NT Records Service) establishes the circumstances when the destruction of public records may be temporarily suspended despite previous authorisation for disposal, as set out in a Retention and Disposal Schedule.

The policy includes a workflow of the process involved in the implementation of a disposal freeze, and a sample disposal freeze.

Records disposal freeze implementation advice for NT public sector organisations PDF (78.7 KB) provides guidance to public sector organisations about how to implement a records disposal freeze for records of a public sector organisation.

The Archives Service and the Records Service have issued a records disposal freeze for records relevant to the scope of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (Bushfire Royal Commission).

The issue of this disposal freeze means that any records within the scope of the Bushfire Royal Commission must not be destroyed even if the records are due for destruction under the terms of a current and authorised records disposal schedule.

The notification provides an outline of the types of records that may be relevant and identifies some of the disposal schedules that are likely to contain relevant classes of records.

The disposal freeze is effective from 30 March 2020. A review of the requirement for the continuation of the disposal freeze will be undertaken by the archives service and records service prior to 31 August 2020.

For more information, read the notice of records disposal freeze for records relating to the Royal Commission into national natural disaster arrangements PDF (292.9 KB).

The NT Archives Service and the Records Service have issued a records disposal freeze for records relevant to the scope of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission).

The issue of this disposal freeze means that any records within the scope of the Disability Royal Commission must not be destroyed even if the records are due for destruction under the terms of a current and authorised records disposal schedule.

The notification provides an outline of the types of records that may be relevant and identifies some of the disposal schedules that are likely to contain relevant classes of records.

The disposal freeze is effective from 12 September 2019. A review of the requirement for the continuation of the disposal freeze will be undertaken by the archives service and records service prior to 31 December 2022.

For more information, read the notice of records disposal freeze for records relating to the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability PDF (638.8 KB).

The NT Archives Service and the Records Service have issued a records disposal freeze targeting records relating to the Royal Commission into the Child Protection and Youth Detention Systems in the Northern Territory.

The issue of this disposal freeze means that any records that were created on or after 1 August 2006 which may be required for the inquiries of the Royal Commission or related legal actions or investigations must not be destroyed even if the records are due for destruction under the terms of a current and authorised records disposal schedule.

The initial disposal freeze was issued from 1 August 2016 - 30 June 2017. The disposal freeze was extended until 30 June 2018 pending the conclusion of the Royal Commission. The final report of the Royal Commission was tabled on 17 November 2017. A review of the requirement for the continuation of the disposal freeze was undertaken prior to 30 June 2018 and due to ongoing legal action the disposal freeze was extended for a further 24 months until 30 June 2020. The disposal freeze has been extended until 31 December 2022 due to continuing legal action.

The notification provides an outline of the types of records that may be relevant and identifies some of the disposal schedules that are likely to contain relevant classes of records.

For more information, read the notice of records disposal freeze relating to the Royal Commission into child protection and youth detention systems in the Northern Territory PDF (542.9 KB).

The NT Archives Service and the Records Service have issued a records disposal freeze targeting records relevant to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The issue of this disposal freeze means that any records that document contact between children and a public sector organisation should not be destroyed even if the records are due for destruction under the terms of a current and authorised records disposal schedule.

The notification provides an outline of the types of records that may be relevant and identifies some of the disposal schedules that are likely to contain relevant classes of records.

This disposal freeze supersedes the notice of the proposed disposal freeze issued on 17 January 2013, Notice of Proposed Disposal Freeze relating to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

For more information, read the notice of records disposal freeze relating to the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse PDF (113.5 KB).

The NT Archives Service and the NT Records Service have issued a records disposal freeze to all public sector organisations, which may be in possession of Commonwealth superannuation records, on selected personnel and related superannuation records until 31 December 2030.

These records may be needed in processing claims against the Commonwealth concerning eligibility of Commonwealth employees to join Commonwealth superannuation schemes.

The decision to impose a disposal freeze for NT government records follows agreement by the NT Minister for Arts and Museums to the request by the Commonwealth Minister for Finance and Administration and the National Archives of Australia.

The initial disposal freeze was issued from 11 January 2007-15 August 2011, and extended from 15 August 2011 until 31 December 2015. The disposal freeze has been further extended until 31 December 2030.

For more information, read the notice of records disposal freeze for records relating to the eligibility of Commonwealth employees to join Commonwealth superannuation schemes PDF (4.0 MB).

The Archives Service and the Records Service have issued a records disposal freeze for records relevant to the scope of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The issue of this disposal freeze means that any records within the scope of the Royal Commission must not be destroyed even if the records are due for destruction under the terms of a current and authorised records disposal schedule.

The notification provides an outline of the types of records that may be relevant and identifies some of the disposal schedules that are likely to contain relevant classes of records.

The Royal Commission must provide an interim report by 11 August 2022 and a final report by 15 June 2023.

This disposal freeze is effective from 1 March 2022 and will remain in place until 31 December 2023 to allow for agencies to respond to the recommendations from that report.

For more information, read the notice of records disposal freeze for records relating to the Royal Commission into defence and veteran suicide PDF (5.9 MB).