National Archives of Australia - Annual reports

Ms Williams received the award for outstandingpublic service in driving significant reforms tocommunications and service delivery in theArchives, particularly in relation to IndigenousAustralians in the Northern Territory.The staff of the Archives continued to providehigh-quality advice and services to the governmentand the public. Australia Day Achievementmedals, recognising outstanding performance ina project or core duties, were awarded to fourstaff members: Greg Angenent, Ritchie George,Sean Debenham and Fiona McInnes. In addition,the Communications and Programs sectionreceived a team award. A Director-General specialcommendation was awarded to the Transfer,Location and Lending system development team,which consisted of staff from the Operationsand Preservations branch, and Information andCommunication Technology section.FinanceThe Australian National Audit Office provided anunqualified audit opinion on the Archives’ 2010–11financial statements. Income was $68.207 millionwhile expenses totalled $75.153 million, resultingin a net deficit of $6.946 million. While this is adecline from last financial year’s net surplus of$7.275 million, it was largely a consequence ofthe accounting treatment for the replacementof the Archives’ assets now being recognisedas an equity injection. Expenses also rose andare expected to increase further in 2011–12 andbeyond, particularly in relation to employees andsuppliers. These cost pressures will continue tobe carefully managed by the Archives to meetits challenges and deliver on key priorities andresponsibilities in the coming year.The year aheadIn accordance with government financial budgeting,the Archives will move to a rolling five-year planningframework to ensure that operational and strategicpriorities are harmonised.In the 2011–12 Budget, the government approveda strategy to extend and improve the Archives’preservation and storage capacity. This strategyincludes commitments for two building projects.The Archives will also fund one further projectfrom its existing capital budget. Together, the threeclosely integrated projects will ensure the Archivesis able to accept transfers of paper and audiovisualrecords until at least 2031. The three projects are:• upgrade of the repository at Chester Hill inSydney• construction of the National ArchivesPreservation Facility in the ACT region• major refurbishment of the existing buildingat Mitchell in the ACT.The National Archives Preservation Facility willaccommodate 150 staff, and include contemporarypreservation and conservation laboratory areas,records processing and handling areas, and staffamenities. It will be a passive green facility, whichwill minimise energy and resource use, greenhousegas emissions and its environmental footprint.The facility is expected to be completed in 2016.In June 2011, the Australian Government agreedto a new policy to move government agenciesto digital recordkeeping for efficiency purposes.The Archives has a leading role in delivering thisnew information and records management policy.The policy also requires agencies to rationalise andreduce any existing stockpiles of paper recordsthat are overdue for destruction under recordsauthorities issued by the Archives.The Archives’ role in implementation of thispolicy complements its already established roleof providing standards, guidance and adviceto agencies on information management. TheArchives will work to promote the policy morewidely and to develop a number of productsto support agencies in their transition to digitalinformation management.The Archives will report to the Minister each yearfor three years on the progress of agencies inachieving the policy goals. In 2014 the Minister willreport to the Prime Minister on overall progressacross the government.Dr Stephen EllisDirector-General (Acting)Director-General’s review of 2010–11 5