Public Records Review Committee

Queensland's Public Records Review Committee aims to further strengthen the management of public records in Queensland.

The nine-member committee was established in March 2003 to ensure a consistent approach to administering and enforcing the Public Records Act 2002 across Queensland's more than 650 public authorities.

Functions of the Committee

The statutory functions of the Public Records Review Committee include:

advising the State Archivist and the Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology about issues affecting the administration or enforcement of the Act
deciding disputes referred to it under section 19(4) of the Act; and
reviewing decisions of the State Archivist not to authorise the disposal of particular public records or classes of public records.

In carrying out its dispute resolution and decision review functions, the Public Record Review Committee is obliged to uphold the rules of natural justice and pursue procedural fairness.

The Committee is a statutory body established under the Public Records Act 2002. It considers the interests of the public, researchers, State and local governments, and the judiciary when it makes decisions. For example, if a dispute arises between an agency and the State Archivist about access restrictions associated with particular records or classes of records, the Committee has the authority to decide the dispute bearing in mind the interests of the stakeholders it represents. In addition, public authorities can ask the Committee to review the State Archivist's decision to not authorise the disposal of certain public records.

Committee Members

Committee Members are nominated under Section 29(3) of the Public Records Act 2002 as follows:

one Member is nominated by the Minister who administers the Local Government Act 1993 (the Minister for Environment,Local Government,Planning and Women) - this Member is Mr Chris Rose
one Member is nominated by the Chief Justice - this Member is Mr Ken Toogood
one Member is nominated by the Minister who administers the Public Service Act 1996 (the Premier) - this Member is Mr Brian Carroll
one Member is nominated by the Minister who administers the Public Records Act 2002 (the Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology) for their knowledge of, and experience in, the management of information and records - this Member is Mr Chris Gorry, and
five members are nominated by the Minister who administers the Public Records Act 2002 (the Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology) for their experience in areas the Minister considers relevant to the functions of the Committee - these members are:
- Mr Brian Herd (Chairperson)
- Ms Kay Ryan
- Dr Jennifer Harrison
- Professor Malcolm Thomis
- Ms Leonie Short

View the Committee Member profiles.

Committee Decisions

The Committee may publish its decisions, particularly in regard to its dispute resolution functions.

Committee Meetings

The Committee's inaugural meeting was held on Thursday 19 June 2003.

The Committee meets three times each year to provide advice on the enforcement and administration of the Public Records Act 2002.

Generally one meeting each year is held in a regional centre. Regional meetings have been held in Toowoomba, Rockhampton, on North Stradbroke Island, and in Boonah. The July 2008 meeting will be held on the Sunshine Coast.

Contact Details

The Committee may be contacted through Queensland State Archives, which provides the Secretariat for the Committee.

Executive Officer,PRRC
Senior Project Officer
Queensland State Archives

Phone: +61 7 3131 7787
Fax: +61 7 3131 7764
Email: info@archives.qld.gov.au

Postal Address:
Public Records Review Committee
c/- Queensland State Archives
PO Box 1397
Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109

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Last Updated: Thursday, 3 July 2008