{"id":"F2023L01245","name":"Archives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2023","slug":"archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442086,"registerId":"F2023L01245-fast-fetch-1775957191499","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Archives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2023","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nArchives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2023\n\nI, Simon Froude, Director‑General of the National Archives of Australia, make the following determination.\n\nDated: 20 July 2023\n\n \n\nSimon Froude\n\nDirector‑General of the National Archives of Australia\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Schedules\n\n6  Charges for discretionary services\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nArchives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2021\n\nArchives (Discretionary Service Charges – Agency Digitisation) Determination 2021\n\n1  Name\n\n  This is the Archives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2023.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on 11 September 2023.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 69A of the Archives Act 1983.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Archives Act 1983.\n\nAQP is Archival Quality Testing.\n\naudio-visual format means any item in audio, video, motion picture film or motion picture film sound format.\n\naudio-visual title means a core descriptive record that represents, in part or whole, the contents of an individual production, program or recording in either its original form or a variation of its original form.\n\ncorporate Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in paragraph 11(a) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.\n\nGST has the same meaning as in section 195-1 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999.\n\nitem is the smallest discrete unit used by the Archives to describe a record in a series for purposes related to the care, management, transfer or retrieval of the record; for audio-visual records, multiple items may be required to make up a complete audio-visual title.\n\nExample: For paper files:\n\n(a) if the file is divided into parts—each of the parts is a separate item; and\n\n(b) if the file is not divided into parts—the file is a single item.\n\nFor photographic formats:\n\n(c) if the photographic format is a negative film strip – the individual frame is a separate item\n\nFor all audio-visual formats:\n\n(d) if the audio-visual title is comprised of different parts with separate image and sound – each of the parts is a separate item; and\n\n(e) if the audio-visual title is comprised of different parts due to length – each of the parts is a separate item.\n\nlarge file means a paper file of 101 to 400 pages.\n\nmotion picture film means acetate, nitrate or polyester photographic film base where image only is recorded for the purpose of continuous playback.\n\nmotion picture film sound means magnetic film base or acetate, nitrate or polyester photographic film base with recorded sound only.\n\nmute means that synchronised recorded sound is not available for the image.\n\nNational Archives means National Archives of Australia\n\nnon-corporate Commonwealth entity has the same meaning as in paragraph 11(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.\n\nPAT is the Photographic Activity Test.\n\nset means the combination of motion picture film and separate motion picture film sound for the purpose of synchronised playback of image and sound.\n\nsilent means that synchronised recorded sound was never produced for the image.\n\nsmall file means a paper file of 10 pages or less.\n\nsmall-medium file means a paper file of 11 to 50 pages.\n\nsoundtrack means an optical or magnetic stripe of audio printed on the same piece of film as the image.\n\nstandard file means a paper file of 51 to 100 pages.\n\nstandard motion picture film means a motion picture film with soundtrack, or is mute or silent.\n\nvery large file means a paper file of over 400 pages.\n\nvideo means any open reel, cassette or cartridge where the content is moving image and / or sound recorded on magnetic tape.\n\n5  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n6  Charges for discretionary services\n\n  For section 69A of the Act, the amount or rate of charge for a discretionary service provided to a Commonwealth institution mentioned in an item in the following table is the amount or rate of charge set out in that item, applying to the Commonwealth institution as follows:\n\na)      “Amount or rate of charge (GST exclusive)”: applies to non-corporate Commonwealth entities.\n\nb)      “Amount or rate of charge (GST inclusive)”: applies to corporate Commonwealth entities.  \n\n \n\n- Charges for storage services\n- Item Discretionary service Amount or rate of charge (GST exclusive) Amount or rate of charge (GST inclusive)\n- 1 The storage, control, access, preservation or disposal, of the records of the person under an arrangement between the Archives and the person an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service\n- 2 The description, barcoding, boxing and reconciliation work applied to records not described and/or appropriately housed when transferred to Archives custody an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service\n- 3 Sentencing of records $317.44 per shelf metre of records $349.18 per shelf metre of records\n- 4 Research assistance conducted by a staff member $82.50 per hour $90.75 per hour\n- 5 Transporting records to the Archives an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service\n- 6 Serviced storage of records in air-conditioned storage $39.56 per shelf metre of records $43.52 per shelf metre of records\n- 7 Supplying archival containers for the storage of records an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the archival containers an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the archival containers\n- 8 Searching outside normal business hours for a record $307.28 incl. 1 hour of searching, plus $153.64 per hour thereafter $338.01 incl. 1 hour of searching, plus $169.00 per hour thereafter\n- 9 Bulk withdrawal and/or destruction of records other than for sentencing $11.64 per shelf metre of records $12.80 per shelf metre of records\n- 10 Transfer accessioning services $317.44 per shelf metre of records $349.18 per shelf metre of records\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n- Charges for digitisation services\n- Item Discretionary service Amount or rate of charge (GST exclusive) Amount or rate of charge (GST inclusive)\n- Paper files\n- 11 Digitisation charge for small (< 11 pages) file $38.08 per file $41.89 per file\n- 12 Digitisation charge for small-medium (11-50 pages) file $47.29 per file $52.02 per file\n- 13 Digitisation charge for standard (51-100 pages) file $81.25 per file $89.38 per file\n- 14 Digitisation charge for large (101-400 pages) file $223.09 per file $245.40 per file\n- 15 Digitisation charge for very large (> 400 pages) file an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service\n- Discrete individual items\n- 16 Digitisation charge for original item under A3 $120.78 per item $132.86 per item\n- 17 Digitisation charge for original item over A3 $192.01 per item $211.21 per item\n- Audio-visual items\n- 18 Digitisation charge for audio item $112.51 per item $123.76 per item\n- 19 Digitisation charge for video item $190.05 per item $209.06 per item\n- 20 Digitisation charge for standard motion picture film $495.26 per item $544.79 per item\n- 21 Digitisation charge for motion picture film items with separate motion picture film sound item $746.84 per set $821.52 per set\n- Delivery media and postage\n- 22 Delivery media an amount equal to the cost of providing the delivery media an amount equal to the cost of providing the delivery media\n- 23 Postage an amount equal to the cost of posting the delivery media an amount equal to the cost of posting the delivery media\n\n\n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n- Charges for discretionary services\n- Item Discretionary service Amount or rate of charge (GST exclusive) Amount or rate of charge (GST inclusive)\n- Certification and copying\n- 24 Certification of true copy up to 10 pages (domestic postage) $42.64 per item $46.90 per item\n- 25 Certification of true copy up to 10 pages (overseas postage) $58.38 per item $64.22 per item\n- 26 Certification of true copy per page over 10 pages $5.23 per page $5.75 per page\n- 27 B&W photocopy A4/A3 $1.41 per page $1.55 per page\n- 28 Colour photocopy A4/A3 $1.91 per page $2.10 per page\n- 29 Self-service printing from RecordSearch $1.41 per page $1.55 per page\n- Materials Testing\n- 30 Photographic activity test (incl. 2 samples) $874.87 per test $962.36 per test\n- 31 Photographic activity test (additional samples) $569.33 per test $626.26 per test\n- 32 Alkaline reserve or pH test (incl. 2 samples) $555.12 per test $610.63 per test\n- 33 Alkaline reserve or pH test (additional samples) $351.84 per test $387.02 per test\n- 34 Fibre furnish or tear resistance test (incl. 2 samples) $361.77 per test $397.95 per test\n- 35 Fibre furnish or tear resistance test (additional samples) $197.55 per test $217.31 per test\n- Other Professional Services\n- 36 Offsite professional training an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service an amount equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service\n- 37 Assisted use of specialist equipment $168.09 per hour $184.90 per hour\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nArchives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2021\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument\n\n \n\n \n\nArchives (Discretionary Service Charges – Agency Digitisation) Determination 2021\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward consolidation and update of existing fee-setting instruments. It replaces two 2021 determinations with one combined instrument but does not expand the scope of services covered or the categories of entities charged. The structure and purpose remain consistent with the original intent: setting fees for discretionary services under section 69A of the Archives Act 1983."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward tabular structure with 37 fee items across 3 categories","Simple conditional logic: only two entity types (corporate vs non-corporate) determine GST treatment","18 defined terms in section 4, mostly technical archival terms (e.g., 'motion picture film sound', 'PAT', 'shelf metre')","Minimal cross-referencing: only references to the Archives Act 1983 (section 69A) and PGPA Act for entity definitions","No nested exceptions or conditional clauses within the charging provisions themselves","Repeal schedule is mechanical and simple (repeals two entire instruments)","Primary complexity comes from technical archival terminology rather than legal structure"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument sets a consolidated price list for 37 discretionary services the National Archives of Australia can charge government agencies for work beyond its baseline obligations. It replaces two 2021 schedules and applies different GST treatments for non‑corporate (GST‑exclusive) and corporate (GST‑inclusive) Commonwealth entities. Covered services include storage, sentencing, digitisation, certification and specialist testing. It provides transparent cost recovery for labour‑intensive or specialised archival work."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the Archives (Discretionary Service Charges) Determination 2021 and the Archives (Discretionary Service Charges – Agency Digitisation) Determination 2021 (Schedule 1) and replaces them with an updated schedule of fees and charging rules (s6). It preserves cost‑based charging for several services while updating many fixed rates and clarifying GST treatment between corporate and non‑corporate Commonwealth entities (s6). The change is financial and administrative in scope rather than an expansion of statutory functions."},"complexity_factors":["Mixed pricing models: many items are fixed dollar rates while others are charged “equal to, or less than, the cost of providing the service”, creating administrative discretion and variable pricing (s6, multiple items).","GST treatment split: different application rules for corporate versus non‑corporate Commonwealth entities require separate invoicing and accounting treatment (s6(a)–(b)).","Detailed definitions affect charge application: file‑size bands, ‘item’, audio‑visual terms, and media types determine which charge applies (definitions, s4).","Numerous itemised rates across media and services (s6 items 1–37) increase operational complexity for rate calculation, billing and record classification.","Repeal and replacement of prior instruments requires transition management and updating of agency agreements and processes (Schedule 1 — repeals).","Measurement and classification burdens: shelf‑metre charging, page bands, and AV ‘sets’ impose recordkeeping and measurement tasks on Archives and client agencies (definitions, s4; s6 items referencing shelf metre and file bands).","Technical services and testing (PAT, AQP, pH, fibre tests) introduce procurement and laboratory coordination obligations and tiered pricing for samples versus additional samples (s4; s6 items 30–35)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument replaces the Archives' 2021 discretionary‑charges instruments and sets a new schedule of fees and charging rules for storage, digitisation, materials testing and other optional services. It commences on 11 September 2023 and is made under section 69A of the Archives Act 1983.\n\nIt applies to Commonwealth institutions that use Archives services: corporate entities pay GST‑inclusive fees, non‑corporate entities pay GST‑exclusive fees, and multiple services are priced “equal to, or less than, the cost” of providing them, leaving the Archives discretion over some charges."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023","history":"/api/acts/archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/archives-discretionary-service-charges-determination-2023/documents"}}