Freedom of Information Section 8 Statement

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) requires each agency to publish detailed information about the way it is organised, its powers, the kinds of decisions it makes, the documents it holds, the ways members of the public can obtain access to these documents and any arrangements for public involvement in the work of the agency.

The body of this annual report explains the establishment and major functions of the Advisory Council. This statement supplements that general information to meet the requirements of section 8 of the FOI Act. It is correct as at 30 June 2005.

Organisation

Secretariat and administrative support for the Council is provided by the National Archives of Australia. The Executive Officer is an officer employed by the National Archives.

The Advisory Council usually meets four times each year. Members serve for terms not exceeding three years and may serve an additional term.

Functions

The functions of the Advisory Council are defined under section 11 of the Archives Act 1983, as follows:

1)	The Council shall furnish advice to the Minister and the Director-General with respect to matters to which the functions of the Archives relate.
2)	The Minister or the Director-General may refer any matter of the kind referred to in subsection (1) to the Council for advice and the Council may, if it thinks fit, consider and advise the Minister or the Director-General on a matter of that kind of its own motion.

Powers

As an advisory body, the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council has no decision-making or other powers directly affecting members of the public.

Categories of documents

The National Archives of Australia Advisory Council does not hold any documents that are open to the public either on payment of a fee or customarily available free of charge. The Council’s Secretariat maintains files that contain:

documents relating to the administration of the Council;
papers discussed at Council meetings; and
correspondence relating to the activities of the Council.

The Annual Report of the Advisory Council is tabled in Parliament.

Freedom of Information procedures and initial contact points

All inquiries concerning access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 may be directed during normal business hours to:

Executive Officer
National Archives of Australia
Advisory Council
c/- National Archives of Australia
Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600
PO Box 7425,
Canberra Business Centre
ACT 2610

Tel (02) 6212 3643
Fax (02) 6212 3931
Email execoff@naa.gov.au

The Executive Officer may also be contacted regarding inquiries or comments relating to the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council Annual Report.

Facilities for access

Facilities for access to documents are provided at the office of the National Archives of Australia, Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, ACT.

Arrangement for outside participation

Persons or bodies outside the Commonwealth administration may participate in the Council’s advisory role by making representations to the Chairman or any member of the Council.