Additional funding is likely to be allocated to the National Archives to ensure disintegrating records can be saved, but an announcement is months, not weeks away.
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The important national institution's money woes have been in the spotlight since the government was forced to release a review by former bureaucrat David Tune that found the Archives was likely in breach of its statutory role, by failing to retain all records under its remit.
Forced to turn to the public for funding, there has been outcry among political, academic and legal circles that the fabric of Australian history is not being protected by the government.
Despite a report on Saturday that an announcement of new funding for the Archives was close to being finalised, consultation with other departments on what is needed for the Archives in the 21st century is not expected to be finished until July 2.
Asked late last week when a response to the Tune review was due, Assistant Attorney General Amanda Stoker, who has responsibility for the Archives, said "I think you'll find that's imminent".
Pressed on whether an announcement would come this week, Senator Stoker responded: "not that imminent".
Director-General of the National Archives David Fricker has warned the institution has already began planning for which archives will be lost, particularly audio-visual archives, which require conversion to digital forms.
Sally Whyte
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
