T1HE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS GIVEN riO THE PRESS ON 6/ 1/ 1972 IN THE
NAME OF " A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
ACCESS TO COMMONWEALTH-ARCHIVES
The recent release by the British Government, under its
' archives policy, of official records including Cabinet papers from
the Second World War, has given rise to questions about access to
Australian Government records, a spokesman for the Prime Minister
said today. The archives policy of the Commonwealth Government was
reviewed in December 1970. A statemcnt announcing the new policy
a was then made. In accordance with this policy, the general run of
records is, with certain specific exceptions, subject to a " this ty
year access" rule.
0 Cabinet papers because of their special nature were
differentiated. Under the decisions taken in December 1970, the
fifty year rule was retained for access to these papers and release
was also to require the Prime Minister's approval and consultation
with the Leader of the Opposition where such papers originated under
a Labor Government. The Prime Minister stated today that further consideration
would be given to the policy of access to Government decuments.
CANBERRA, 6 January, 1972 n
McMahon, William
Period of Service: 10/03/1971 - 05/12/1972
Find more information on McMahon, William on the:
Release Date:
06/01/1972
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
2509
Document:
00002509.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- McMahon, William
ACCESS TO COMMONWEALTH ARCHIVES
2509