{"id":"public-records-act-1973","name":"Public Records Act 1973","slug":"public-records-act-1973","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":178409,"registerId":"vic-public-records-act-1973-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Public Records Act 1973","content":"Version No. 043\n\n**Public Records Act 1973**\n\n**No. 8418 of 1973**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n26 February 2025\n\n**table of provisions**\n\n*Section Page*\n\n1 Short title 1\n\n2 Definitions and limit of application of the Act 1\n\n2A Person or body no longer a public office 4\n\n2B Records of a body that ceases to be a public office 4\n\n3 Public Record Office 4\n\n4 Public Records Advisory Council 4\n\n4A Membership of Council not office of profit 7\n\n5 Functions of Public Records Advisory Council 7\n\n6 Employment of Keeper of Public Records and other employees 8\n\n7 Responsibilities of Keeper of Public Records 8\n\n8 Publications 8\n\n8A Transfer of public records to Public Record Office 9\n\n9 Personal or private records may be withheld 9\n\n10 Records may be withheld for 30 years 10\n\n10AA Certain records may be withheld from public inspection 10\n\n10AAB Yoorrook Justice Commission record order 11\n\n10A Access to records apart from Act 14\n\n11 Inspection and copying of public records 14\n\n12 Standards for management of public records 14\n\n13 Duties of officer in charge of a public office 15\n\n13A Inspection of public office or other place 15\n\n14 Power to appoint place outside Public Record Office for deposit of public records 15\n\n15 Power to purchase or to transfer records for safe-keeping 16\n\n15A Compulsory acquisition of public records 16\n\n16 Prescribed records—owner to lodge notice of possession 17\n\n17 Sale or other disposal of prescribed records 18\n\n18 Prescribed records to become property of State upon death of owner 20\n\n19 Offence to remove etc. public record without authority 21\n\n20 Destruction or transfer of records in Public Record Office 21\n\n20A Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence 22\n\n21 Keeper of Public Records to report to Minister 22\n\n22 Admissibility etc. of records and copies of records in Public Record Office 23\n\n23 Regulations 24\n\nEndnotes 25\n\n1 General information 25\n\n2 Table of Amendments 27\n\n3 Explanatory details 29\n\n**Version No.** **043**\n\n**Public Records Act 1973**\n\n**No. 8418 of 1973**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n26 February 2025\n\nAn Act with respect to the Establishment of a Public Record Office and the Preservation, Management and Utilization of the Public Records of the State.\n\n**BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same as follows (that is to say):**\n\n\t1 Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the **Public Records Act 1973**.\n\n\t2 Definitions and limit of application of the Act\n\n(1) In this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—\n\n***prescribed*** means prescribed by this Act or the Regulations;\n\nS. 2(1) def. of *prescribed record* amended by No. 29/1994 s. 76(1).\n\n***prescribed record*** means a record declared by the Minister pursuant to section 16 to be a prescribed record for the purposes of this Act;\n\nS. 2(1) def. of *public office* amended by Nos 12/1989 s. 4(1)(Sch. 2 item 101.1), 61/1996 s. 86(a), 67/2014 s. 147(Sch. 2 item 31).\n\n***public office*** means—\n\n(a) any department branch or office of the Government of Victoria;\n\n(b) any public statutory body corporate or unincorporate;\n\n(ba) a State owned enterprise within the meaning of the **State Owned Enterprises Act 1992**;\n\n(c) any municipal council;\n\n(d) any other local governing body corporate or unincorporate;\n\n(e) a Royal Commission, whether established under the **Inquiries Act 2014** or under the prerogative of the Crown;\n\n(f) a Board of Inquiry or Formal Review established under the **Inquiries Act 2014**;\n\n***public officer*** means any person employed in a public office;\n\nS. 2(1) def. of *public record* amended by Nos 29/1994 s. 76(2), 61/1996 s. 86(b), 17/2024 s. 23(1).\n\n***public record*** means—\n\n(a) any record made or received by a public officer in the course of the officer's duties; and\n\n(b) any record made or received by a court or person acting judicially in Victoria—\n\nbut does not include—\n\n(c) a record which is beneficially owned by a person or body other than the Crown or a public office or a person or body referred to in section 2B; or\n\n(d) a prescribed record held for the purpose of preservation by a public office to which it was transferred before the commencement of the **Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1994** by a person or body other than the Crown or a public office; or\n\n(e) a record, other than a prescribed record, held for the purpose of preservation by a public office to which it was transferred, whether before or after the commencement of the **Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1994**, by a person or body other than the Crown or a public office;\n\nS. 2(1) def. of *record* amended by No. 69/2009 s. 54(Sch. Pt 1 item 48).\n\n***record*** means any document within the meaning of the **Evidence Act 2008**.\n\n(2) The Governor in Council may determine—\n\n(a) that any office or body is or is not a public office within the meaning of this Act; and\n\n(b) that any record is or is not a public record within the meaning of this Act—\n\nand notice of any such determination shall be published in the Government Gazette.\n\n(3) The Governor in Council may by Order published in the Government Gazette declare that all or any specified provisions of this Act shall not apply to or in relation to a record or record of a class of records specified in the Order.\n\nS. 2(4) repealed by No. 29/1994 s. 76(3).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 2A  \ninserted by No. 61/1996 s. 87.\n\n\t2A Person or body no longer a public office\n\nFor the purposes of this Act, a person or body that was, at any time, a public office is to be taken never to have been a public office only if—\n\n(a) a legislative provision; or\n\n(b) regulations made for the purposes of this section—\n\nexpressly provide that, for the purposes of this Act, the person or body is deemed never to have been a public office.\n\nS. 2B  \ninserted by No. 61/1996 s. 87.\n\n\t2B Records of a body that ceases to be a public office\n\nIf a body corporate or unincorporate that is a public office ceases, on a particular day, to be a public office, then, despite that cessation—\n\n(a) the records of the body that were in existence prior to that day continue to be public records; and\n\n(b) the Keeper of Public Records may make arrangements with the body to enable those records of the body to be dealt with in accordance with this Act in the same manner as if the body had not ceased to be a public office.\n\nS. 3  \namended by No. 9219 s. 2.\n\n\t3 Public Record Office\n\nFor the better preservation management and utilization of the public records of the State there shall be established an Office to be known as the Public Record Office.\n\n\t4 Public Records Advisory Council\n\nS. 4(1) substituted by No. 29/1986 s. 4(1).\n\n(1) There shall be a Public Records Advisory Council.\n\nS. 4(1A) inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 4(1).\n\n(1A) The Council shall consist of not more than ten members appointed by the Minister of whom—\n\nS. 4(1A)(a) amended by No. 29/1994 s. 77(1)(a).\n\n(a) one shall be the Department head or his or her nominee; and\n\n(b) the remaining members shall be persons with knowledge of or experience in any of the following areas—\n\n(i) public administration;\n\n(ii) local government;\n\n(iii) the management of records;\n\nS. 4(1A)(b)(iv) substituted by No. 29/1994 s. 77(1)(b).\n\n(iv) business administration and finance;\n\n(v) historical research;\n\n(vi) genealogical research;\n\n(vii) any area considered by the Minister to be a relevant area for the purposes of this subsection.\n\nS. 4(1B) inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 4(1).\n\n(1B) A member of the Council may, subject to the Minister's approval, choose a nominee to represent that member at meetings of the Council where the member is absent.\n\nS. 4(1C) inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 4(1)\n\n(1C) The Council may appoint sub-committees consisting of two or more members of the Council.\n\nS. 4(2) amended by Nos 29/1986 s. 4(2), 29/1994 s. 77(2).\n\n(2) The Minister shall appoint one of the members to be President of the Council[[1]](#endnote-1).\n\nS. 4(3) amended by No. 29/1986 s. 4(2).\n\n(3) The Minister may remove any member of the Council from office.\n\n(4) Subject to this section a member of the Council—\n\n(a) shall hold office for the period (not exceeding three years) and subject to the terms and conditions specified in his instrument of appointment; and\n\n(b) shall be eligible for re-appointment.\n\nS. 4(4A) inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 77(3).\n\n(4A) A person who has been a member of the Council for 9 consecutive years ceases to hold office and is not eligible for re-appointment unless[[2]](#endnote-2)—\n\n(a) the person is, or immediately before the expiry of the ninth consecutive year the person was, the President; or\n\n(b) a period of 3 years or more has elapsed since the person last was a member of the Council.\n\n(5) The office of a member of the Council shall become vacant—\n\n(a) at the expiration of his term of office;\n\n(b) if he dies;\n\nS. 4(5)(c) amended by No. 29/1994 s. 77(4)(a).\n\n(c) if he is removed from office by the Minister;\n\nS. 4(5)(d) amended by No. 29/1994 s. 77(4)(b).\n\n(d) if he resigns in writing under his hand addressed to the Minister; or\n\n(e) if without leave granted by the Council he fails to attend three successive meetings of the Council.\n\nS. 4(6) substituted by No. 29/1986 s. 4(3).\n\n(6) A quorum of the Council shall consist of not less than half the members of the Council.\n\n(7) Subject to this Act the Council may regulate its own proceedings.\n\nS. 4(8) amended by No. 29/1994 s. 77(5).\n\n(8) Each member of the Council shall be entitled to the travelling expenses and fees (if any) prescribed.\n\nS. 4A  \ninserted by No. 29/1994  \ns. 78.\n\n\t4A Membership of Council not office of profit\n\nA member of the Public Records Advisory Council shall not be taken by reason of being a member to hold an office or place of profit under the Crown which would—\n\n(a) prevent the member sitting or voting as a member of the Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly; or\n\n(b) make void the member's election to the Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly; or\n\n(c) prevent the member continuing to be a member of the Legislative Council or Legislative Assembly; or\n\n(d) subject the member to liability to a penalty under the **Constitution Act 1975**.\n\n\t5 Functions of Public Records Advisory Council\n\nThe Public Records Advisory Council—\n\n(a) in consultation with the Keeper of Public Records, shall promote co-operation between the Public Record Office and public offices; and\n\n(b) may report and make recommendations to the Minister on any matter relating to the administration of this Act.\n\n\t6 Employment of Keeper of Public Records and other employees\n\nS. 6(1) substituted by No. 46/1998  \ns. 7(Sch. 1), amended by No. 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 168).\n\n(1) A Keeper of the Public Records and any employees that are necessary for the purposes of this Act are to be employed under Part 3 of the **Public Administration Act 2004**.\n\n(2) Subject to this Act and to the general direction and control of the Minister, the Keeper of Public Records shall have the management and control of the Public Record Office and of all public records therein.\n\n\t7 Responsibilities of Keeper of Public Records\n\nThe Keeper of Public Records shall be responsible for—\n\nS. 7(a) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(2).\n\n(a) the preservation and security of public records under the control of the Keeper of Public Records;\n\n(b) the logical and orderly classification of such records and the publication of lists indexes and other guides facilitating their use;\n\n(c) the duplication and reproduction of public records for official and other purposes; and\n\n(d) the authentication of copies of and extracts from public records required as evidence in legal proceedings or for other purposes.\n\n\t8 Publications\n\nThe Keeper of Public Records may—\n\n(a) prepare and cause to be published articles concerning the activities of and the facilities provided by the Public Record Office; and\n\nS. 8(b) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(3).\n\n(b) arrange for the publication, upon any terms and conditions the Keeper of Public Records thinks fit, of any public record under the control of the Keeper of Public Records or of any articles prepared therefrom.\n\nS. 8A  \ninserted by No. 29/1994 s. 79.\n\n\t8A Transfer of public records to Public Record Office\n\nSubject to this Act, where a public record in the possession of a public office other than the Public Record Office has been in existence as a public record for 25 years and has ceased (whether before or after the commencement of this section) to be required to be readily available for the purposes of a public office, the public office must, as soon as it is practicable to do so, cause the record to be transferred to the custody of the Public Record Office in accordance with arrangements approved by the Keeper of Public Records.\n\n\t9 Personal or private records may be withheld\n\nS. 9(1) amended by Nos 29/1994 s. 80, 17/2024 s. 23(4).\n\n(1) Where the Minister is of opinion that any records required by this Act to be transferred from a public office to the Public Record Office contain matters of such a private or personal nature that they should not be open for public inspection the Minister may, after consultation with the Minister responsible for the administration of the public office concerned, declare those records to be private or personal records and not available for public inspection for a period specified in the declaration.\n\n(2) The Minister, after consultation with the Minister responsible for the administration of the public office from which any such private or personal records were transferred, or if the case so requires, of the public office at the time exercising the functions to which the records relate, may—\n\n(a) revoke or vary any declaration under subsection (1) in respect of those records; or\n\n(b) permit, on any conditions or restrictions specified, all or any of those records to be open for inspection by any specified person or class of persons.\n\nS. 10 substituted by No. 29/1994 s. 81.\n\n\t10 Records may be withheld for 30 years\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister by notice published in the Government Gazette may declare that any specified records or records of a specified class transferred or to be transferred from a public office to the Public Record Office shall not be available for public inspection for a period specified in the declaration, being a period of not more than 30 years, after the date of their transfer to the Public Record Office.\n\n(2) A declaration under subsection (1) may only be made with the agreement of the Minister responsible for the administration of the public office concerned.\n\n(3) A declaration under subsection (1) may not be varied or revoked.\n\nS. 10AA inserted by No. 30/2006 s. 18.\n\n\t10AA Certain records may be withheld from public inspection\n\n(1) This section applies to any record the disclosure of which would, or could reasonably be expected to—\n\n(a) cause damage to the security of the Commonwealth or any State or Territory; or\n\n(b) cause damage to the defence of the Commonwealth; or\n\n(c) cause damage to the international relations of the Commonwealth; or\n\n(d) endanger the security of any premises within the meaning of the **Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003**.\n\n(2) The Minister or the Keeper of Public Records may, by notice published in the Government Gazette, declare that a specified record or class of record to which this section applies transferred or to be transferred to the Public Record Office is, on and from the specified date, to cease to be, or is not to be, available for public inspection either indefinitely or for the specified period.\n\n(3) The Minister or the Keeper (as the case requires) may, by instrument, permit (on any conditions or restrictions specified in the instrument) all or any of the records covered by this section to be available for inspection by any person or class of person specified in the instrument.\n\n(4) A person permitted to inspect a record in accordance with subsection (3) must not contravene any condition or restriction applicable to that inspection.\n\n1. 5 penalty units.\n\n\n(5) The Minister may only exercise a power conferred by this section after consultation with the Minister responsible for the administration of the public office from which the record was, or is to be, transferred or, if the case so requires, for the time being exercising the functions to which the record relates.\n\nS. 10AAB inserted by No. 4/2025 s. 7.\n\n\t10AAB Yoorrook Justice Commission record order\n\n(1) The Keeper of Public Records must comply with a Yoorrook Justice Commission record order to the extent that it is reasonably practicable to do so.\n\n(2) The Keeper of Public Records must ensure that a record in respect of which a Yoorrook Justice Commission record order has been made is available for inspection by any person who is specified in that order as an author of the record.\n\n(3) If a person who is specified as an author of a record in a Yoorrook Justice Commission record order requests a copy of the record in respect of which the order was made, the Keeper of Public Records must give that person a copy of the record.\n\n(4) The Keeper of Public Records must ensure that an employee referred to in section 6(1) does not access a record in respect of which a Yoorrook Justice Commission record order has been made unless it is for any one or more of the following purposes—\n\n(a) the transfer of the record to the custody of the Public Record Office;\n\n(b) the maintenance and security of the record;\n\n(c) the preservation of the record;\n\n(d) to respond to a requirement to produce the record to a court or Victorian tribunal;\n\n(e) to respond to a request for the record from—\n\n(i) the Auditor‑General; or\n\n(ii) the Ombudsman; or\n\n(iii) the IBAC; or\n\n(iv) the Victorian Inspectorate or Integrity Oversight Victoria (as the case requires); or\n\n(v) a Royal Commission or Board of Inquiry;\n\n(f) to respond to a request for the record made under the **Freedom of Information Act 1982**;\n\n**Note**\n\nThe **Freedom of Information Act 1982** does not apply to a document that is subject to a Yoorrook Justice Commission record order for the period of 99 years, beginning on the day on which the document is transferred to the Department of Premier and Cabinet under section 124 of the **Inquiries Act 2014**—see section 125 of the **Inquiries Act 2014**.\n\n(g) to respond to a request for the record from a person or body—\n\n(i) that is empowered to request the record under an enactment; or\n\n(ii) that can properly request the record or is required to request the record by law;\n\n(h) to make the record available in accordance with the order or to otherwise comply with the order.\n\n(5) The Keeper of Public Records must not access a record in respect of which a Yoorrook Justice Commission record order has been made unless it is for a purpose set out in subsection (4).\n\n(6) In subsection (4)—\n\n(a) a reference to responding to a request or requirement for a record includes a reference to assisting in the response to a request or requirement for the record; and\n\n(b) a reference to a request for a record includes a request for a class of records that includes the record.\n\n(7) In this section—\n\n***Yoorrook Justice Commission* *record order*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **Inquiries Act 2014**.\n\nS. 10A inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 81.\n\n\t10A Access to records apart from Act\n\nNothing in this Act prevents a person from giving access to records otherwise than in accordance with this Act where the person can properly do so or is required by law to do so.\n\nS. 11 amended by No. 29/1994 s. 82(1).\n\n\t11 Inspection and copying of public records\n\nS. 11(1) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(5).\n\n(1) Subject to this Act, the Keeper of Public Records shall cause reasonable facilities to be available to the public for inspecting and obtaining copies of public records under the control of the Keeper of Public Records.\n\nS. 11(2) inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 82(2).\n\n(2) The Keeper of Public Records may withhold any public record from inspection or copying if the preservation of the record would be prejudiced.\n\nS. 11(3) inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 82(2).\n\n(3) If a record is withheld in accordance with subsection (2), a copy shall be provided where, in the opinion of the Keeper, it is practicable to do so without detriment to the preservation of the record.\n\n\t12 Standards for management of public records\n\nThe Keeper of Public Records shall establish standards for the efficient management of public records and in particular with respect to—\n\n(a) the creation, maintenance and security of public records;\n\n(b) the selection of public records worthy of preservation;\n\n(c) the transfer of public records to the Public Record Office; and\n\n(d) the segregation and disposal of public records not worthy of preservation—\n\nand shall assist public officers in applying these standards to records under their control.\n\n\t13 Duties of officer in charge of a public office\n\nThe officer in charge of a public office—\n\n(a) shall cause to be made and kept full and accurate records of the business of the office;\n\n(b) shall be responsible, with the advice and assistance of the Keeper of Public Records, for the carrying out within the office of a programme of records management in accordance with the standards established under section 12 by the Keeper of Public Records; and\n\n(c) shall take all action necessary for the recovery of any public records unlawfully removed from the office.\n\nS. 13A inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 5.\n\n\t13A Inspection of public office or other place\n\nThe Keeper of Public Records may enter, at any reasonable time, a public office or any place in which the public records of that office are stored to inspect the storage and conservation arrangements of the records in the office or place and the carrying out in that office or place of the programme of records management referred to in section 13(b).\n\n\t14 Power to appoint place outside Public Record Office for deposit of public records\n\nS. 14(1) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(6).\n\n(1) Where it appears to the Minister that a place outside the Public Record Office is suitable for the safe-keeping and preservation of public records the Minister may appoint it as a place of deposit for any specified class of public records.\n\n(2) The Keeper of Public Records may from time to time cause public records of the appropriate class to be transferred to a place of deposit appointed under this section or to be transferred from such a place to the Public Record Office.\n\n(3) Public records in a place of deposit appointed under this section shall be in the custody and under the control of the Keeper of Public Records.\n\nS. 14(4) inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 6.\n\n(4) The Minister may, out of moneys lawfully available for the purpose, make money available for the purpose of establishing or maintaining a place of deposit appointed under this section.\n\nS. 14(5) inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 6.\n\n(5) The Keeper of Public Records may at any reasonable time enter a place of deposit appointed under this section to inspect the safe-keeping and preservation of the public records in that place.\n\n\t15 Power to purchase or to transfer records for safe-keeping\n\nS. 15(1) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(7).\n\n(1) The Keeper of Public Records may, out of moneys lawfully available for the purpose, purchase any record which in the opinion of the Keeper of Public Records is worthy of preservation.\n\n(2) The owner of any record worthy of preservation may, with the consent of the Minister and subject to any terms and conditions agreed upon by the owner and the Minister, transfer the record to the custody of the Keeper of Public Records for  \nsafe-keeping.\n\nS. 15A inserted by No. 29/1986 s. 7.\n\n\t15A Compulsory acquisition of public records\n\n(1) The Minister may, on behalf of the Crown, require a person to deliver to the Keeper of Public Records a public record in the person's possession.\n\n(2) The Minister may, if the Minister thinks fit, out of moneys lawfully available for the purpose pay compensation to a person required to deliver a public record to the Keeper.\n\n(3) The amount of compensation payable must be the value of the record as assessed by an independent valuer appointed by the Minister.\n\nS. 15A(4) amended by No. 57/1985 s. 3(Sch. item 168.1).\n\n(4) Any dispute as to the amount of compensation may be referred by the Minister or the person required to deliver the public record, to the Magistrates' Court and the decision of the Court shall be final.\n\n(5) This section does not affect any rights of compulsory acquisition of public records existing under common law.\n\n\t16 Prescribed records—owner to lodge notice of possession\n\nS. 16(1) amended by Nos 29/1994 s. 83(a)(b), 17/2024 s. 23(8)(a).\n\n(1) Where the Minister upon the recommendation of the Keeper of Public Records is satisfied that a record—\n\n(a) would be a public record within the meaning of this Act but for the fact that it is beneficially owned by a person or body other than the Crown or a public office;\n\n(b) is of special historic significance to Victoria; and\n\n(c) should be preserved by the State—\n\nthe Minister may by notice published in the Government Gazette declare that record to be a prescribed record for the purposes of this Act.\n\nS. 16(2) amended by No. 29/1986 s. 8(a).\n\n(2) The owner of a prescribed record shall, within 60 days after the record is declared to be a prescribed record or within 60 days after acquiring the record, lodge a notice of possession in or to the effect of the form prescribed with the Keeper of Public Records.\n\n1. 1 penalty unit.\n\n\n(3) The Keeper of Public Records may by notice in writing—\n\n(a) require the owner of a prescribed record to produce the record within 21 days to the Public Record Office for copying; and\n\nS. 16(3)(b) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(8)(b).\n\n(b) give any directions in relation to the  \nsafe-keeping of the record that in the opinion of the Keeper of Public Records are necessary for its protection or preservation.\n\nS. 16(4) amended by No. 29/1986 s. 8(a).\n\n(4) Where a requirement or direction contained in a notice given under subsection (3) is not complied with the owner of the record concerned, unless the record has been transferred in accordance with this Act to the custody of the Keeper of Public Records, shall be guilty of an offence.\n\n1. 1 penalty unit.\n\n\nS. 16(5) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(8)(c).\n\n(5) Where pursuant to a notice under subsection (3) a prescribed record has been produced for copying, the Keeper of Public Records shall not cause or permit any copy of the record retained by the Keeper of Public Records to be published or a facsimile of any such copy to be made by a member of the public.\n\n\t17 Sale or other disposal of prescribed records\n\n(1) The owner of a prescribed record shall not sell the record otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this section and shall not in any other way dispose of the record without the consent of the Minister.\n\nS. 17(2) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 20(1).\n\n(2) Before entering into an agreement to sell a prescribed record the owner shall give to the Minister at least seven days notice in writing of the owner's intention to do so.\n\n(3) An agreement to sell a prescribed record—\n\n(a) shall be in writing;\n\n(b) shall set out—\n\n(i) the full name and address of the parties to the agreement;\n\n(ii) a description of the record concerned; and\n\n(iii) the purchase price of the record; and\n\n(c) shall be subject to the consent of the Minister.\n\n(4) Upon entering into an agreement to sell a prescribed record the owner of the record shall forthwith send a copy of the agreement to the Minister.\n\n(5) Within 30 days after receipt of a copy agreement and after consultation with the Public Records Advisory Council, the Minister by notice in writing—\n\nS. 17(5)(a) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 20(2)(a).\n\n(a) shall advise the owner of the record whether or not the Minister consents to the sale; and\n\nS. 17(5)(b) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 20(2).\n\n(b) where consent is refused, may advise the owner that the Minister intends to acquire the record.\n\n(6) A notice advising of the Minister's intention to acquire a prescribed record shall require the owner to transfer the record to the custody of the Keeper of Public Records within the time, being not less than 14 days, specified in the notice.\n\n(7) Where a prescribed record is acquired by the Minister pursuant to this section the Minister shall out of moneys lawfully available for the purpose pay to the person from whom it is acquired the amount of the purchase price set out in the copy agreement of sale of the record forwarded to the Minister under subsection (4).\n\nS. 17(8) amended by No. 29/1986 s. 8(b).\n\n(8) A person who—\n\n(a) fails to comply with any provision of this section; or\n\n(b) fails to transfer a record to the custody of the Keeper of Public Records in accordance with a requirement of the Minister under this section—\n\nshall be guilty of an offence.\n\n1. 5 penalty units.\n\n\nS. 17(9) inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 84.\n\n(9) A sale or disposal of a prescribed record without the consent of the Minister is void.\n\n\t18 Prescribed records to become property of State upon death of owner\n\nS. 18(1) amended by No. 29/1994 s. 85(1).\n\n(1) Upon the death of the owner of a prescribed record or, where the owner is not a natural person, on the expiration of 50 years after acquisition of a prescribed record, the record shall become the property of the State and shall be transferred to the custody of the Keeper of Public Records.\n\nS. 18(1A) inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 85(2).\n\n(1A) The Minister may extend the period of 50 years referred to in subsection (1) for one further period of not more than 50 years.\n\nS. 18(2) amended by No. 29/1994 s. 85(3).\n\n(2) The Minister shall out of moneys lawfully available for the purpose pay compensation to the owner of the estate of the deceased owner of any prescribed record transferred to the custody of the Keeper of Public Records in accordance with this section.\n\n(3) The amount of compensation payable shall be the value of the record as assessed by an independent valuer appointed by the Minister.\n\nS. 18(4) amended by No. 57/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 168.2).\n\n(4) Any dispute as to the amount of compensation may be referred by the Minister or the claimant to the Magistrates' Court and the decision of the Court shall be final.\n\nS. 19 amended by Nos 29/1986 s. 8(b), 29/1994 s. 86(1).\n\n\t19 Offence to remove etc. public record without authority\n\n(1) A person who unlawfully removes sells damages or destroys a public record shall be guilty of an offence.\n\n1. 5 penalty units.\n\n\nS. 19(2) inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 86(2).\n\n(2) Destruction or disposal of public records by a public officer in accordance with standards established under section 12 is lawful.\n\nS. 20 amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(9).\n\n\t20 Destruction or transfer of records in Public Record Office\n\nWhere public records have been transferred to the Public Record Office for the purpose of permanent preservation and the Keeper of Public Records, for any reason, is of opinion that the records should no longer be preserved, the Keeper of Public Records may, after consultation with the officer in charge of the public office from which they were transferred or, if the case so requires, of the officer in charge of the public office at the time exercising the functions to which the records relate and with the approval of the Minister, authorize the destruction of those records or their transfer to any person or body wishing to receive them.\n\nS. 20A inserted by No. 29/1994 s. 87.\n\n\t20A Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence\n\n(1) If access has been given to a public record and the access was permitted by this Act to be given, no action for defamation or breach of confidence lies against the Crown, a Minister, the Keeper of Public Records or a person employed in the Public Record Office by reason of the giving of the access, and no action for defamation or breach of confidence in respect of any publication involved in, or resulting from, the giving of the access lies against the author of the document or any other person by reason of that author or other person having supplied the public record to the Public Record Office.\n\n(2) The giving of access to a public document shall not be taken for the purpose of the law relating to defamation or breach of confidence to constitute an authorisation or approval of the publication of the public document or its contents by the person to whom access is given.\n\n\t21 Keeper of Public Records to report to Minister\n\nS. 21(1) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(10)(a).\n\n(1) The Keeper of Public Records shall at least once in every year and not later than the 30th day of September in each year lodge with the Minister a report on the carrying out of the functions of the Keeper of Public Records under this Act during the year ending on the preceding 30th day of June.\n\nS. 21(2) amended by No. 17/2024 s. 23(10)(b).\n\n(2) The Minister shall cause every report lodged under this section to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within three weeks after receiving the report or if Parliament is not then sitting within three weeks after the next meeting of Parliament.\n\n\t22 Admissibility etc. of records and copies of records in Public Record Office\n\n(1) A public record produced from the Public Record Office shall have the same evidentiary value as if it had been produced from the public office from which it was transferred.\n\n(2) A copy of or an extract from a public record in the Public Record Office or other place of deposit appointed under this Act, if it bears a certificate purporting to be signed by the Keeper of Public Records that it is a true copy or extract—\n\n(a) shall be admissible in evidence without further proof before any court or any person acting judicially as if it was the public record or part of the public record concerned; and\n\n(b) shall have the same evidentiary value as if it was a copy of or extract from a public record in the office from which it was transferred certified to be a true copy or extract by any person authorized to do so by or under any Act or rule of law.\n\n(3) In subsection (2) a reference to a public office from which a public record was transferred includes a reference to—\n\n(a) the public office in which the record was originally made lodged registered or otherwise dealt with; and\n\n(b) any other public office to which the custody of the record was at any time transferred.\n\n\t23 Regulations\n\nThe Governor in Council may make regulations for or with respect to—\n\n(a) the conditions under which members of the public may inspect public records and use facilities provided by the Public Record Office;\n\n(b) the copying and reproduction of public records;\n\n(c) fees to be charged by the Public Record Office in respect of the making and supplying of copies of public records and of any other services provided;\n\n(d) travelling expenses for members of the Public Records Advisory Council; and\n\n(e) any matter or thing authorized to be prescribed by this Act or necessary to be prescribed for the purposes of this Act.\n\n\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe **Public Records Act 1973** was assented to on 17 April 1973 and came into operation on 17 April 1973.\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original section or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.  \nSee section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the **Public Records Act 1973** by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n**Public Records (Transfer of Administration) Act 1978, No. 9219/1978**\n\n| Assent Date: | 19.12.78 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | 19.12.78: s. 1(3) |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Public Records (Amendment) Act 1986, No. 29/1986**\n\n| Assent Date: | 20.5.86 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 1–4, 6–8 on 1.8.86: Government Gazette 30.7.86 p. 2946; s. 5 on 20.10.94: Government Gazette 20.10.94 p. 2789—see **Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984** |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Local Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1989, No. 12/1989**\n\n| Assent Date: | 9.5.89 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 4(1)(Sch. 2 item 101.1) on 1.11.89: Government Gazette 1.11.89 p. 2798 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Magistrates' Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989, No. 57/1989**\n\n| Assent Date: | 14.6.89 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 4(1)(a)–(e)(2) on 1.9.89: Government Gazette 30.8.89 p. 2210; rest of Act on 1.9.90: Government Gazette 25.7.90 p. 2217 |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1994, No. 29/1994**\n\n| Assent Date: | 31.5.94 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | 31.5.94: s. 2 |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1996, No. 61/1996**\n\n| Assent Date: | 17.12.96 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 85–87 on 6.2.97: Government Gazette 6.2.97 p. 257—see **Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984** |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Public Sector Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 46/1998**\n\n| Assent Date: | 26.5.98 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 7(Sch. 1) on 1.7.98: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Public Administration Act 2004, No. 108/2004**\n\n| Assent Date: | 21.12.04 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 168) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette 31.3.05 p. 602 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Terrorism (Community Protection) (Further Amendment) Act 2006, No. 30/2006**\n\n| Assent Date: | 6.6.06 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 18 on 7.6.06: s. 2 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions) Act 2009, No. 69/2009**\n\n| Assent Date: | 24.11.09 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 54(Sch. Pt 1 item 48) on 1.1.10: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Inquiries Act 2014, No. 67/2014**\n\n| Assent Date: | 23.9.14 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 147(Sch. 2 item 31) on 15.10.14: Special Gazette (No. 364) 14.10.14 p. 2 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Estate Agents, Residential Tenancies and Other Acts Amendment (Funding) Act 2024, No. 17/2024**\n\n| Assent Date: | 21.5.24 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 20, 23 on 30.6.24: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n**Inquiries Amendment (Yoorrook Justice Commission Records and Other Matters) Act 2025, No. 4/2025**\n\n| Assent Date: | 25.2.25 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 7 on 26.2.25: s. 2 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Public Records Act 1973** |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n1. S. 4(2): Section 88(1) of the **Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1994**, No. 29/1994 reads as follows:\n\n  88 Transitional provisions\n\n  (1) The person holding office as Chairman of the Public Records Advisory Council under the Principal Act as in force immediately before the commencement of this section continues to hold office as President for the remainder of the term for which, and on the same terms and conditions as those on which the person was appointed as Chairman. [↑](#endnote-ref-1)\n\n2. S. 4(4A): Section 88(2) of the **Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1994**, No. 29/1994 reads as follows:\n\n  88 Transitional provisions\n\n  (2) A member of the Public Records Advisory Council who—\n\n  (a) was appointed under the Principal Act before the commencement of this section; and\n\n  (b) has held office for 9 consecutive years—\n\n  continues to be a member until the expiry of his or her current term of office but on that expiry is not eligible for re-appointment except in accordance with section 4(4A) of the Principal Act. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act's operational scope has expanded since enactment: it now expressly covers State‑owned enterprises and a broader set of public bodies (s2); requires transfer after 25 years (s8A); creates new security and national‑interest withholding powers (s10AA) and a 30‑year Ministerial closure power (s10); adds a prescribed‑record regime with notification, sale controls and compulsory acquisition with compensation (ss16–18,15A); and implements a statutory rule for compliance with Yoorrook Justice Commission record orders (s10AAB). These amendments add discretion, cross‑Act interactions and new compliance burdens."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple decision‑makers with overlapping powers: Minister, Keeper of Public Records, Governor in Council and the Public Records Advisory Council (ss2,3,4,6).","Layered timeframes and exceptions: mandatory transfer at 25 years (s8A); Ministerial closures up to 30 years (s10); 50/100 year property/FOI exceptions for prescribed records and Yoorrook orders (ss18,10AAB, note).","Private‑owner obligations and controls: prescribed records regime requires notice, controls on sale, compulsory acquisition and penalty sanctions (ss16–18,17,15A,19).","Discretionary withholding grounds and preservation trade‑offs: withholding for preservation or security, and Keeper authority to refuse access where preservation would be prejudiced (ss11,10AA,11(2)).","Compensation and dispute resolution mechanics: State pays compensation with independent valuation and disputes to Magistrates' Court (ss15A(2)–(4),18(2)–(4)).","Cross‑Act interactions and specific carve‑outs: references to Inquiries Act, Freedom of Information Act, Terrorism Act and special orders (s10AAB, s10AA, explanatory note).","Operational and compliance burdens on public offices: standards, inspections and potential transfer or entry powers for Keeper to enforce records management (ss12,13A,14,8A).","Regulatory detail left to delegated instruments: fees, copying conditions and inspection rules may be prescribed by regulation (s23)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act establishes the Public Record Office and a Keeper to preserve, manage and make State public records available; public offices must generally transfer records older than 25 years to the Office (s8A). The Minister and Keeper set standards and may withhold access for preservation, national security or for fixed periods up to 30 years (ss11,10,10AA). Owners of historically significant private “prescribed records” must notify possession, face sale and transfer controls and possible compulsory acquisition with State-paid compensation (ss16–18,15A). The Keeper must follow Yoorrook Justice Commission record orders (s10AAB)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available metadata, the Act appears to have retained its core purpose of managing public records since its original enactment in 1973. While it has been consolidated (updated) over time, consolidated versions typically incorporate amendments without fundamentally departing from the original legislative intent. No evidence of significant scope change is apparent from the provided information."},"complexity_factors":["The provided text contains very limited substantive content — only metadata, version history headers, and status indicators — making meaningful detailed analysis difficult","The Act itself (in full form) involves administrative and archival frameworks that require understanding of government record-keeping systems","Interaction with other legislation (Freedom of Information Act, Privacy legislation) adds layers of complexity in practice","The Act has been in force since 1973 and has undergone consolidation, meaning multiple amendments may have altered its original structure","Determining what constitutes a 'public record' can involve nuanced classification decisions across diverse government contexts"],"plain_english_summary":"The Public Records Act 1973 governs how Victoria’s government records are created, kept, and disposed of, and establishes the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) as keeper of the state’s archives. It binds government agencies and officials to retention, disposal, and approval procedures and guarantees preservation of historically significant materials. By controlling destruction and enabling public access, the Act protects accountability and the state’s documentary heritage for researchers and citizens."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has grown significantly beyond its original 1973 purpose of establishing an archives office. It now includes: (1) a complex national security/terrorism secrecy regime added in 2006; (2) detailed compulsory acquisition powers for private property (prescribed records); (3) specific protections for truth-telling commission records (Yoorrook) added in 2025 with unique 99-year restrictions; and (4) intricate rules about bodies that cease to be public offices. The original Act was primarily about government record-keeping; it now regulates private ownership of historical documents and creates special evidentiary regimes for specific inquiries."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping secrecy regimes: personal/private records (s.9), 30-year closure (s.10), national security indefinite closure (s.10AA), and the new Yoorrook 99-year restriction (s.10AAB) with different decision-makers and conditions","Complex definition of \"public record\" with multiple exclusions (s.2(1)) including beneficial ownership tests and transitional carve-outs from the 1994 Arts Institutions amendments","Interaction with other statutes: cross-references to Evidence Act 2008, Inquiries Act 2014, State Owned Enterprises Act 1992, Terrorism Act 2003, Freedom of Information Act 1982, and Public Administration Act 2004","Prescribed records scheme creates property rights in private hands with compulsory acquisition mechanisms, valuation disputes, and 50-year (extendable) sunset clauses (ss.16-18)","Nested exceptions and conditional logic: s.10AAB contains 8 specific permitted purposes for access, with sub-definitions clarifying that \"responding to requests\" includes assisting in responses","Transitional provisions and deeming provisions for bodies that cease to be public offices (ss.2A, 2B) creating fictional legal statuses","Evidentiary provisions (s.22) with multiple deeming effects and references to original creating offices"],"plain_english_summary":"This is Victoria's **Public Records Act 1973**, which creates a system for preserving and managing government records so they don't get lost, destroyed, or hidden away forever.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Establishes the **Public Record Office** (PROV) — Victoria's official archives — and the **Public Records Advisory Council** to oversee it\n- Requires government departments, courts, local councils, and other public bodies to keep proper records and eventually transfer them to PROV when they're 25 years old\n- Sets rules for when records can be kept secret — for personal privacy (Section 9), for up to 30 years for sensitive government matters (Section 10), or indefinitely for national security, defence, or terrorism-related reasons (Section 10AA)\n- Creates special protections for **Yoorrook Justice Commission records** — these are restricted for 99 years with strict access controls to protect truth-telling records from the inquiry into historical injustices against Aboriginal Victorians (Section 10AAB)\n- Covers **\"prescribed records\"** — historically significant documents owned by private individuals that the State can protect, register, and even acquire if the owner dies or tries to sell them (Sections 16–18)\n- Makes it a crime to destroy, damage, or steal public records (Section 19)\n- Ensures records held by PROV can be used as evidence in court just like the originals (Section 22)\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- All Victorian government agencies, courts, local councils, and statutory bodies\n- The **Keeper of Public Records** (the head archivist) and PROV staff\n- Private owners of historically significant documents declared \"prescribed records\"\n- Researchers, historians, and the public who want to access historical records\n- Anyone giving testimony to the Yoorrook Justice Commission\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout this Act, government records could be destroyed or lost, hiding mistakes or misconduct from public view. It ensures transparency, preserves history, and creates a balance between public access and legitimate needs for secrecy (like personal privacy or national security). The recent addition of Section 10AAB is particularly significant — it protects sensitive truth-telling records from the Yoorrook Justice Commission for nearly a century, ensuring cultural safety while preserving evidence for future generations."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/public-records-act-1973","history":"/api/acts/public-records-act-1973/history","analysis":"/api/acts/public-records-act-1973/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/public-records-act-1973/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/public-records-act-1973/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/public-records-act-1973/documents"}}