Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Cabinet appoints new members to Public Records Review Committee

Nine members have been appointed to the Queensland Government’s Public Records Review Committee, established in 2003 to help manage the State’s official records, Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology announced today.

The Committee is a statutory body, established under the Public Records Act 2002, to advise the Minister and the State Archivist on the administration of the Act.

Mr Schwarten said that the composition of the nine-member committee has changed after the three committee members, Mr Ken Toogood, Mr Brian Carroll and the inaugural Committee Chairperson Mr Brian Herd did not seek re-appointment.

The following new Committee members have been appointed:
Chairperson Mr Miguel Diaz, Business Development Director, Minter Ellison Lawyers
Ms Robyn Hill, Director of Courts, Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Ms Lyn Botsman, Senior Manager, Public Service Commission.

Continuing Committee members are:
Mr Chris Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Logan City Council
Ms Margaret Strelow, small business owner from Rockhampton.
Professor Malcolm Thomis, Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Consultant, University of Queensland
Ms Leonie Short, Senior Lecturer in Oral Health Therapy, Griffith University Gold Coast
Dr Jennifer Harrison, Research Historian and Research Advisor, University of Queensland and Researcher, Australian National University
Mr Chris Gorry, Director of Group Advantage Pty Ltd.

“The Committee is there to ensure there is a consistent approach to the management and preservation of public records of more than 600 Queensland public authorities,” Mr Schwarten said.

“The Committee has the authority to resolve disputes that may arise between agencies and the State Archivist over access restrictions and the disposal of public records,” he said.

“The Committee members have shown they have the right mix of skills for the role, and all members due for reappointment have agreed to renew their commitment to the Queensland State Archives and the management of government information,” Mr Schwarten said,

Queensland State Archives is located at 435 Compton Road Runcorn and is open to the public between 9am and 4.30pm on weekdays and every second Saturday of the month. Its website is www.archives.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: 3237 1184

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