Australia goes digital with government records

The Australian Government is fast-tracking moves to digital information management – with whole-of-government reforms requiring federal agencies to move from paper to digital record-keeping.
This change-over, led by National Archives Australia (NAA), is being rolled out under the Federal Government’s Digital Transition Policy.

Under this policy, all Federal Government records will go digital – while phasing out agencies’ reliance on paper records and cumbersome storage facilities. Key milestones for this digital capture are under discussion. Roll-over targets are expected to be finalised by the end of June 2012.
It is no longer feasible or practical for agencies to manage and store paper records, says the NAA’s director-general, David Fricker.

Digital information management will save agencies millions of dollars in reduced storage costs and create a more open, transparent and accountable government.

The NAA earlier did a survey showing that by 2014 the total volume of electronic records which agencies expect to create will be more than 10.7 million gigabytes.
“And that’s just the new records, not the overall amount of information that needs to be managed,” says David Fricker.

“This explosion in information means traditional paper storage of records is simply not an option.”
Digital information management slashes the cost of storing volumes of paper records. This platform simplifies end-users’ anywhere, anytime access to information in an on-line environment.

Digital recordkeeping means the bulk of agencies’ records can be created, stored and managed digitally and, where possible, new paper records simply scanned so that new paper files are not created.

The National Archives is driving the Digital Transition Policy in consultation with the Australian Government Information Management Office and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
The Digital Continuity Plan offers a practical guide for agencies about the migration to digital information management, including online storage, access and retrieval capabilities.

The National Archives’ own collection mainly documents Australian government activities since Federation in 1901. This collection comprises more than 39 million items covering a vast range of subject areas.