Australian Government Recordkeeping Metadata Standard

The Australian Government Recordkeeping Metadata Standard (AGRkMS) Version 2.2 describes information assets and the context in which they are captured and used in Australian Government agencies.

The standard is designed to help agencies meet business, accountability and archival requirements in a systematic and consistent way by maintaining reliable, meaningful and accessible records.

It is divided into two parts:

  • Part 1 describes the purpose and features of the standards.
  • Part 2 outlines the metadata elements and sub-elements.

On this page

Update

The Standard's Rights Type Scheme (D12.1) was extended to support changes to the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) which came into effect on 1 January 2019. The updated Rights Type Scheme is provided below.

Full list of Rights terms

Term Definition
Archival Access A determination made under relevant archival legislation as to whether business information is (fully or partially) available for public access.
Authorised Public Access A determination made by an organisation that business information is open to public access, either from the time of its creation or from any time after that.
Commercial Restrictions on access to, or use of, business information that could compromise an agency's or another party's commercial interests.
Copyright Restrictions, under the Copyright Act 1968, on the copying or further promulgation of business information.
Cultural Restrictions on access to, or use of, business information which could breach cultural sensitivities.
Disclaimer A caution regarding the accuracy or completeness of information contained in business information.
Embargo Time or future event-based restriction when business information can be released. For example, information embargoed until after the Budget has been released.
FOI A determination made under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 as to whether business information is available for public release.
Intellectual Property Restrictions on use of the intellectual content of business information.
Legal Privilege Restrictions on access to, or use of, information covered by legal professional privilege.
Legislative Secrecy Restrictions on access to, or use of, information covered by legislative secrecy provisions.
Personal Privacy

Restrictions, under the Privacy Act 1988, on access to, or use of, personal information collected for business purposes.

The Privacy Act defines personal information as 'information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable'.

'Sensitive information' under the Act includes personal information about an individual's:

  • racial or ethnic origin
  • political opinions
  • membership of a political association
  • religious beliefs or affiliations
  • philosophical beliefs
  • membership of a professional or trade association
  • sexual orientation or practices
  • criminal record
  • health or genetic information.

It also includes certain defined biometric information.
Use Permission A permission assigned to business information that allows or restricts access by particular agents or groups of agents.

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