National Archives of Australia - Annual reports

During the reporting period, security remaineda focus of the Audit Committee and theLeadership Team. The Agency SecurityAdviser regularly reported to these bodies onaspects of security training, risk reviews andrisk management.In 2010–11, 165 staff attended securityawareness training. All ongoing andnon-ongoing staff, contractors andconsultants were briefed by the AgencySecurity Adviser’s office on commencementof their employment.Ethical standardsThe Archives continued to create and maintaina safe, healthy and productive workplace, freefrom discrimination, harassment and other formsof harmful behaviour. Training and information areprovided to all staff on their obligations under thePublic Service Act.During 2010–11, two confirmed breaches of theAustralian Public Service Code of Conduct werereported and resolved. No requests to review ahuman resource decision were received, and noappeals to external authorities were made.External scrutinyThe Archives is subject to scrutiny by theAdministrative Appeals Tribunal, the FederalCourt of Australia, the Auditor-General, theCommonwealth Ombudsman, parliamentarycommittees and the Privacy Commissioner.Administrative AppealsTribunalApplicants dissatisfied with the result ofreconsideration of an Archives decision regardingaccess to records can seek an AdministrativeAppeals Tribunal review. In 2010–11, the Tribunalreceived one new application from a persondissatisfied with access decisions made by theArchives. Two cases from previous years werealso before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.The outcomes of these cases are as follows:• On 16 July 2010, the Tribunal set aside partof a previous decision of 29 February 2008.The applicant was not granted any furtherinformation as it was exempt under otherprovisions of the Archives Act.• On 28 March 2011, the Tribunal ruled that42 documents were exempt but somematerial contained in 25 of them couldbe released.As at 30 June 2011, there was one case before theAdministrative Appeals Tribunal.Federal Court of AustraliaThere were no new cases before the Federal Courtof Australia in 2010–11. Two cases, adjournedindefinitely in April 2009 pending arrangementsfor the appellant to appear, progressed no furtherduring the reporting period.Auditor-GeneralIn 2010–11, the Archives was not the subjectof any Australian National Audit Officeperformance audits.Commonwealth OmbudsmanDuring 2010–11, the Commonwealth Ombudsmaninvestigated two new complaints about theArchives. Both complaints related to delays inresponding to access applications.One complaint was concluded with no adversefinding about the Archives. Another complaintwas not resolved within the reporting period.In July 2010, a complaint lodged in 2009–10was resolved with no adverse finding aboutthe Archives.Parliamentary committeesThe Archives appeared before the Senate Financeand Public Administration Legislation Committeeon one occasion in 2010–11: Senate BudgetEstimates on 24 May 2011. The Archives did notappear before any other parliamentary committee,nor were any reports received on issues ofparticular relevance to the Archives.40 Annual Reports 2010–11