Some cabinet papers still too sensitive after 30 years

National Archives of Australia released the cabinet papers of 1980 under the 30 year rule on 1 January. Archives are moving towards open access after 20 years, but NAA didn't have resources to release the 1981 records, as required in what would have been the first step in this transition. Over 3000 documents were released, with about 25, around the same number as last year, withheld, three entirely including the subject, and parts of others.

Exceptions to 30 year rule still rule

One aspect of the annual release of Federal Government cabinet documents thirty years old that did not attract much attention was what was not released because of continuing sensitivity. Fairfax papers did report as follows:

Not all of the 1979 cabinet documents have been released: at least 24 were censored. Most of these were in the areas of defence, foreign affairs, and security and intelligence. Australians are not able to see entire cabinet information on defence spending, Chinese and Russian policies on Vietnam's invasion of Kampuchea, ASIS' move to Canberra, pro-Palestinian terrorist interests, an assessment of threats to internal security, Antarctic mineral resources, and security of ESSO/BHP installations in Gippsland. Sections of documents have been withheld mainly to protect Australia's security, defence or international relations.

Here are the published details of documents withheld ( only one) or withheld in part.