Version No. 043
Public Records Act 1973
No. 8418 of 1973
Version incorporating amendments as at
26 February 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
1Short title
2Definitions and limit of application of the Act
2APerson or body no longer a public office
2BRecords of a body that ceases to be a public office
3Public Record Office
4Public Records Advisory Council
4AMembership of Council not office of profit
5Functions of Public Records Advisory Council
6Employment of Keeper of Public Records and other employees
7Responsibilities of Keeper of Public Records
8Publications
8ATransfer of public records to Public Record Office
9Personal or private records may be withheld
10Records may be withheld for 30 years
10AACertain records may be withheld from public inspection
10AABYoorrook Justice Commission record order
10AAccess to records apart from Act
11Inspection and copying of public records
12Standards for management of public records
13Duties of officer in charge of a public office
13AInspection of public office or other place
14Power to appoint place outside Public Record Office for deposit of public records
15Power to purchase or to transfer records for safe-keeping
15ACompulsory acquisition of public records
16Prescribed records—owner to lodge notice of possession
17Sale or other disposal of prescribed records
18Prescribed records to become property of State upon death of owner
19Offence to remove etc. public record without authority
20Destruction or transfer of records in Public Record Office
20AProtection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence
21Keeper of Public Records to report to Minister
22Admissibility etc. of records and copies of records in Public Record Office
23Regulations
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Endnotes
1 General information
2 Table of Amendments
3 Explanatory details
Version No. 043
Public Records Act 1973
No. 8418 of 1973
Version incorporating amendments as at
26 February 2025
An Act with respect to the Establishment of a Public Record Office and the Preservation, Management and Utilization of the Public Records of the State.
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):
1Short title
This Act may be cited as the Public Records Act 1973.
2Definitions and limit of application of the Act
(1)In this Act unless inconsistent with the context or subject-matter—
prescribed means prescribed by this Act or the Regulations;
prescribed record means a record declared by the Minister pursuant to section 16 to be a prescribed record for the purposes of this Act;
public office means—
(a)any department branch or office of the Government of Victoria;
(b)any public statutory body corporate or unincorporate;
(ba)a State owned enterprise within the meaning of the State Owned Enterprises Act 1992;
(c)any municipal council;
(d)any other local governing body corporate or unincorporate;
(e)a Royal Commission, whether established under the Inquiries Act 2014 or under the prerogative of the Crown;
(f)a Board of Inquiry or Formal Review established under the Inquiries Act 2014