Closed access

Overview

Under the Australian Archives Act 1983 most Commonwealth records are opened to public scrutiny after twenty years (this was reduced from thirty years in 2010). But the Act also defines ‘exempt’ records that can be withheld from the public for a variety of reasons, including the defence of national security, and the protection of individual privacy. Access under the Act is not an inevitable destination, but a process that may result in records with the access status of ‘closed’.

Here you can explore these closed files. Why can't we look at them? How old are they? What are we really being protected against?

14370

closed files

on 1 January 2016
28

reasons

why these files have been closed
58

years

is the average age of these files
based on their date of their earliest content
1128

series

contain closed files

BE WARNED! This is a work in progress. It's part of an ongoing research project by Tim Sherratt (@wragge). As a result, this interface is likely to change. That said, pretty much everything should work, so feel free to poke around and see what you can find. Have fun!

Here's some examples…

Series Control Symbol Title Contents dates
A1838 169/11/52 PART 12 India - Relations with USSR 1971 - 01 Jan 1800
B4069 VP/5/30 Programs - 3 FOX FM [4 pp] 1980 - 1980
K26 MX26521 MEAKINS Athole - DVA File [WWII sern WX1103] 1939 - 1991
A3092 221/1/4/1/1 PART 4A SEATO - Council 04 Jan 1962 - 11 Nov 1962
C139 MX132799 Lindsay Shadwell JOY [Repatriation medical case file] [box 66232] 1941 - 1975
C605 LA252 Headquarters staff - Mrs Woolfe 1942 - 1946
A12812 167 Inquiry into redevelopment of Brisbane international airport, phase 1 - Statement of evidence, originating papers, correspondence, unnumbered submissions, briefing papers, tabling details 06 May 1982 - 02 Mar 1984
K38 1987/1271 Conferences and meetings - boards and committees - CES [Commonwealth Employment Service] migrant services advisory committee [Department of Labour/Employment] 1987 - 1988
PP904/1 HX21180 James William Guest 1948 - 1956
A13014 F.2.1 Follow-up on Committee Reports - The Defence Service Homes Scheme May 1978 - 14 Oct 1981
MP16/1 1915/3/345 Dobley George Sijuan 1915 - 1922
A9125 RECEIPT 11 Receipts to births registered in Port Moresby. Receipts 44851 to 44900 (Registrations 7239 to 7280) 12 Aug 1975 - 07 Nov 1975
AWM98 R201/1/3 [Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (HQ AFV):] Compensation - General - Policy for claims by Vietnamese citizens Apr 1968 - Sep 1969
A4624 CERBERUS 31/3/1942 PART 2 Ships Ledger HMAS CERBERUS Quarter Ending: 31/3/1942 part 2 1942 - 1942
PP911/1 MX66189 ALLEN Harold Alderman WX11094 1915 - 1966
B73 H65201 HENDERSON, William Metcalfe [0.50 cms] 1972 - 1976
E72 DL2567 Parry, William and Mary [Portion of Title Expunged] Amy 1953 - 1953
B4794 VEITENHEIMER, ISABELLA [Claim for Special Benefit - Isabella Veitenheimer] 1959 - 1964
M1148 ANTARCTIC MAPS Antarctic maps [maps note location of the Australian Antarctic Territory and other claims to Antarctica; includes correspondence with Allen W Dulles, Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)] 1957 - 1968
A13147 NSR 45 National Security Act Regulations & Ordinances - War Legislation Laid on Table during period 14/5/40 to 21/6/40 incl, (Order of Tabling) 14 May 1940 - 21 Jun 1940