Public Records Act 1973
PROV was established under section 3 of the Public Records Act 1973 ‘for the better preservation, management and utilisation of the public records of the State’. The Act provides the legal framework within which PROV operates, and specifies the core functions of PROV and the Keeper of Public Records with respect to government records. These functions, pursuant to sections 7, 11 and 12 of the Act, include:
- establishing standards for the efficient management of public records, including creation, maintenance, security, selection of those worthy of preservation, transfer for archiving, and segregation or disposal of
those not worthy of preservation - assisting public officers to apply these standards to records under their control
- taking public records into custody, preserving archives and providing security
- classifying records and publishing indexes and guides to facilitate access
- providing facilities for viewing, and making records in custody accessible
- duplicating or reproducing and authenticating public records.
View the Public Records Act here.
Public Records Regulations 2023
Regulations are made under section 23 of the Public Records Act 1973 and are known as the Public Records Regulations 2023. The Regulations prescribe fees for making and supplying copies of public records and set out conditions for the inspection of public records and use of facilities provided by PROV.