Action In Parliament by Senator Bob Brown:

This information has bee received from the office of Greens senator Scott Ludlam:

Notice of this motion was given yesterday and will be voted on in the Senate today (Tuesday 17 November)

*614 Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Bob Brown) and Senator Hanson-Young:

To move -

That the Senate -

(a) does not support the non-consultative process which has led to the closures of the Tasmanian, South Australian and Northern Territory offices of the National Archives of Australia;

(b) recognises:

(i) the disadvantages that will be faced by researchers, organisations and the general public as a result of the office closures, and

(ii) that the number of reading room visits has remained steady over the past 5 years despite an increase in online requests and viewing; and

(c) calls on the Government to reverse the decision to close the three offices to ensure all Australians have access to the archive collection in their state or territory.

Tuesday: late this afternoon, an email came in to say that the preceding motion just passed without a vote i.e. the government supported the motion.