Records retention and disposal authorities

Search for current general and functional records retention and disposal authorities issued by State Records NSW.

Overview of retention and disposal authorities

Records retention and disposal authorities identify those records created and received by NSW public offices which are required as State archives and provide approval for the destruction of other records after minimum retention periods have been met.

This page contains current general and functional records retention and disposal authorities that have been approved for use by State Records NSW. 

A note about approval

  1. While State Records NSW gives approval for the destruction of certain records after minimum retention periods have been met in this retention and disposal authority, it does not compel destruction of records. Public offices are responsible for determining whether there are business or other needs for retaining records beyond the minimum retention periods set out in this authority.
  2.  A public office must not dispose of any records where the public office is aware of possible legal action (including legal discovery, court cases, formal applications for access (GIPA)) where the records may be required as evidence.
  3. For records that are severely damaged by fire, flood, mould, neglect etc. or for digital records that are unreadable or inaccessible, contact State Records NSW immediately when identified.

Directory of retention and disposal authorities arranged by public office

The following spreadsheet provides a linked directory of records retention and disposal authorities that a public office may use to dispose of records or transfer them as State archives. 

Directory of retention and disposal authorities (XLSX 426.15KB)

Included:

  • List of functional authorities, general authorities and a reference to the normal administrative practice (NAP) guidelines that apply to a public office 
  • A complete list of classes of records that are required as State archives (only use classes that are issued to the relevant public office)
  • Disposal authorities highlighted in red are over 10 years old and require a review.

Please email govrec@staterecords.nsw.gov.au if you have any enquiries or think there are errors or cannot find an authority.

 

Current retention and disposal authorities

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