The State Records Act 1998 (the Act) establishes the State Records Authority NSW ('State Records NSW') as the regulator of records management and recordkeeping within NSW public offices. Section 66(1)(a) of the Act identifies that one of the key functions of State Records NSW is the oversight of public office recordkeeping.
The State Records Act provides State Records NSW with regulatory powers and enables State Records NSW to issue formal requirements (e.g. standards, codes of best practice, retention and disposal authorities, notices) and to provide records management services (e.g. guidance, and training) to assist and support public offices in their compliance with the Act.
The Regulatory Framework (2023-2026) describes State Records NSW approach to regulating records management, and how State Records NSW will use the powers in the State Records Act 1998 to support regulatory activities. The Framework is applicable to all public offices and replaces the previous Regulatory Framework (2021-2023).
The Framework will be reviewed in 2026.
This Framework has been written for:
For the purposes of this Framework, the following definitions apply:
Sections 12(4) and 15 of the State Records Act 1998 provide the authority for monitoring activities undertaken by State Records NSW.
Monitoring activities undertaken by State Records NSW measure the maturity and conformity of records management and recordkeeping in a public office. The monitoring activity may use the Records Management Assessment Tool (RMAT), or the minimum compliance requirements in a records management standard issued by State Records NSW, or other specified requirements.
State Records NSW monitoring activities include:
Monitoring activities can be undertaken with the entire jurisdiction of the State Records Act 1998, or with a sector of the jurisdiction (e.g. councils), or an individual public office.
Monitoring activities are conducted according to policies and documented procedures. See the Policy on managing complaints about recordkeeping in public offices and Policy on co-regulation and referral of matters.
Monitoring activities are reported in State Records NSW Annual Report.
Section 12(5) of the State Records Act 1998 allows State Records NSW to issue a notice to a public office requiring a public office to:
State Records NSW may use this section of the State Records Act to escalate actions that can be taken in response to a records management or recordkeeping issue, e.g. if monitoring mechanisms available at sections 12(4) and 15 of the Act have been unsuccessful, or the issue has not been able to be resolved with the public office.
Section 12(6) of the State Records Act allows State Records NSW, if it is not satisfied with a report or the findings of a report, made under section 12(5) of the Act, to include information about this in the State Records NSW Annual Report.
Oversight agencies are those agencies which have special powers that enable them to safeguard the public interest and conduct investigations. They include the NSW Ombudsman, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Audit Office of NSW, and the Information and Privacy Commission of NSW. (see https://sef.psc.nsw.gov.au/understanding-the-sector/central-and-oversight-agencies)
Public Offices
Public offices are defined at section 3 of the State Records Act 1998.
The process of making accurate and reliable records and capturing them into the official recordkeeping systems of the organisation.
An impartial and evidence-based assessment of a public office's recordkeeping conducted by State Records NSW. Section 15 of the State Records Act provides the authority for this work.
A Recordkeeping Assessment may be undertaken in response to a complaint about poor recordkeeping or an emerging recordkeeping/records management issue is a public office. 3 After an initial assessment, approval is sought from the Executive Director, State Records NSW, to proceed with a Recordkeeping Assessment process.
The outcome of the assessment is a draft Recordkeeping Assessment Report which may include recommendations to the public office to remediate and improve recordkeeping. State Records NSW will provide the public office with the draft Recordkeeping Assessment Report for comment. The public office's response to the findings of the Recordkeeping Assessment will be incorporated into the final version of the Report and a copy of the final Report will be provided to the public office.
Recordkeeping Assessments are reported in the State Records NSW Annual Report.
Field of management responsible for the efficient and systematic control of the creation, receipt, maintenance, use and disposition [disposal] of records, including processes for capturing and maintaining evidence of and information about business activities and transactions in the form of records (AS ISO 15489.1: 2017 – clause 3.15)
Unless otherwise defined in this Framework, words and phrases used in this document have the same meaning as in the State Records Act.
State Records NSW takes a responsive regulatory approach in the pursuit of our objectives for the regulation of records management and recordkeeping. This approach enables cooperative and collaborative engagement with public offices to promote voluntary compliance and self-regulation with the State Records Act. This regulatory approach enables State Records NSW to escalate its monitoring activities and actions according to the level of risk posed by non-compliance, for example escalating to formal notices, referral of matters to a co-regulator, to reporting to the Minister, and legal proceedings.
State Records NSW uses coordinated, responsive and risk-informed practices to improve compliance with the requirements of the State Records Act and the standards issued under the Act. State Records NSW regulatory objectives are to:
While our aim is to improve compliance with the State Records Act through cooperative and collaborative engagement with public offices, we will escalate matters of non-compliance when required. Depending on the circumstances of the non-compliance, this may involve referring public offices to oversight agencies, or the relevant Minister, or both.
The pyramid diagram below shows the options available for regulation and enforcement and the frequency of their use within a responsive regulation framework. The use of responsive regulation encourages compliance and reduces the necessity and use of coercive powers.
Green layers of the pyramid are Low Risk/High Frequency. State Records NSW provides guidance, resources, tools to public offices. Public offices undertake self-assessment and self-improvement to voluntarily comply with requirements and to self regulate.
Yellow/Orange layers of the pyramid are Medium Risk. As the risk escalates State Records NSW issues formal improvement notices to public offices, reports public offices to co-regulator, and reports on poor recordkeeping in the Annual Report (section s12(6) and section 20 of the State Records Act 1998).
Red layer of the pyramid is High Risk/Low Frequency. With high risk, State Records NSW will seek criminal proceedings, injunctions, and report public offices to the Minister (section 17 of the State Records Act 1998).
Underpinning State Records NSW responsive regulation approach is the application of risk-based decision-making using information gained through monitoring activities. This approach allows us to assess priorities and allocate resources accordingly, and identify those public offices that are in the greatest need of assistance.
In order to do this, we need to:
We seek to support compliance with the State Records Act with an approach that allows flexibility for public offices to achieve good recordkeeping outcomes and at the same time ensures that risks remain within acceptable levels.
While the State Records Act does not include a formal complaint mechanism, we will assess complaints about poor records management or recordkeeping and act where outcomes align with our regulatory objectives or it becomes clear that there is an unacceptable level of risk. We will use learnings from such complaints to support improved records management and recordkeeping practices in public offices.
We will continue to support and provide advice and guidance to all public offices, including providing guidance on issues that pose risks to records management and recordkeeping, and will continue to promote the importance of recordkeeping in public offices.
State Records NSW recognises that we are accountable for how we monitor compliance with the State Records Act and resolve non-compliance issues.
We will take consistent approaches in responding to issues of non-compliance that we consider are negligent and that damage the integrity of the public record.
Public offices and individuals are able to make a complaint to State Records NSW about serious instances of poor recordkeeping or non-compliant records management within a NSW public sector or government organisation.
State Records NSW decision-making for responding to issues of non-compliance will occur within documented governance processes.
While our responses to non-compliance issues will be consistent, we recognise that each case will require us to consider the particular circumstances, the outcomes sought, level of risks, resources and other relevant factors.
State Records NSW will address non-compliance issues with integrity and in an equitable, objective and unbiased manner. We will deal with issues in a transparent and open manner so that all parties involved in a non-compliance issue have a clear understanding of what is expected from them and what they can expect from State Records NSW.
Using a responsive regulatory approach, we will support, collaborate with and actively encourage all public offices to improve their compliance with the State Records Act and the standards issued under the Act. We will focus on providing relevant guidance, advice, and tools to assist public offices to comply. We will support public offices in their efforts to improve records management and recordkeeping.
Co-regulation typically refers to where one organisation develops and administers standards or requirements, but is supported by other organisations to enforce those standards and requirements.
This Regulatory Framework incorporates co-regulation:
State Records NSW recognises that oversight agencies are better placed to take on an investigatory and enforcement role. The Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) and the NSW Ombudsman have been identified as having complementary legislative scope and investigative powers which would assist State Records NSW to enforce the requirements of the State Records Act.
State Records NSW will refer matters to the relevant oversight agency if the matter:
State Records NSW will work with a range of organisations (e.g. the Information and Privacy Commission, the NSW Ombudsman, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption) to develop guidance and advice which will respond to specific issues, and improve records management in public offices.
Any enforcement action, as a result of issues raised in a Recordkeeping Assessment, a report on the findings of a public office's assessment in response to a notice, or a monitoring activity, will be in proportion to:
Decisions regarding enforcement are made by the Executive Director, State Records NSW.
Enforcement actions can include:
Referral of a matter to the Minister may also include the option for the matter to be examined by the Auditor-General of NSW.
State Records NSW understands that compliance can seem complex. Our aim is to:
State Records NSW will promote voluntary compliance with the State Records Act and the standards issued under the Act. We want public offices to implement good records management and recordkeeping because they understand that it provides critical support to their organisation.
We encourage all public offices to take an active role in assessing their current levels of maturity with requirements and implementing corrective actions where appropriate. The Records Management Assessment Tool (RMAT) enables public offices to self-assess conformity with requirements and levels of maturity, and to use reports from the Annual Recordkeeping Monitoring Exercises for planning and improvement purposes.
State Records NSW will continue to provide advice, guidance, resources, and tools to assist public offices in implementing records management best practice and responding to emerging challenges and issues in records management.
State Records NSW encourages any public office with non-compliance concerns or issues to have a discussion with us about the problems or challenges that they are facing. We will work with public offices to develop solutions to problems when they are brought to our attention. We believe an open discussion about issues and collaboratively developing a plan for improvement provides the best outcomes.
State Records NSW needs to have a clear view of how well public offices are performing against the records management requirements established in the State Records Act and the standards issued under the Act. This information enables us to effectively regulate and respond to emerging issues, risks and challenges, and measure improvement in performance over time. Monitoring activities provide us with this view of performance.
We report to the Minister and the Parliament on the state of records management and recordkeeping in public offices. Our monitoring activities enable us to make such reports.
The results of monitoring activities will be reported on our website and in our Annual Report. Understandings of trends and issues gained from our monitoring activities will be incorporated into new standards, guidance and tools for public offices.
Records are at the core of government business. Good recordkeeping enables accurate, authentic and trustworthy evidence of the business of government that can be depended upon by the Government and the people of NSW. Records are an indispensable ingredient for accountable Government, service delivery, and decision-making.
Excellence in records management and recordkeeping contributes to achieving the outcomes of the State Records Act 1998 and helps to promote trust in the public record and Government.
State Records NSW will promote and share excellence in records management and recordkeeping in public offices, particularly where it contributes to ensuring:
State Records NSW will increase public trust in the quality and care of government records and information by:
1 Conducted under the authority of section 12(4) of the State Records Act 1998.
2 A Recordkeeping Assessment is conducted under section 15 of the State Records Act 1998 and is a separate process to a formal notice issued to a public office under section 12(5) of the Act requiring a public office to conduct an assessment of recordkeeping processes and the records management program.
3 A Recordkeeping Assessment is conducted according to documented procedures.
4 See definition for oversight agencies
5 For further information on co-regulation see the Policy on co-regulation and referral of matters.
Published August 2023
