Hello List, I have been having problems getting emails to the mailing lists, but thanks to rootsweb, I think we have our problem solved, so my reply to E.A. Roberts was a while getting to the list. However, good to see Grahame has picked up on the issues at stake and got discussion rolling, thank you Grahame. There are some bits that Grahame left out. Firstly, the concern with the draft of the State Records Act, is that there is no provisiion being made for appeal. This means that if this Act is legislated, once records are closed, they will stay closed. There is also concern with the draft of the Privacy and Personal Informaion Protection Act, as the draft code for research using using government records ignores access for community researchers. To write about the State Records Act - Access Provisions you write to The Hon R.J. Carr, MP, Premier and Minister for the Arts Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower, SYDNEY. NSW 2000 You write to The Hon B Debus, MP, Attorney-General re the Privacy and Personal Information Act. I suggest people look at the Queensland situation by going to www.historyaustralia.org.au/ifhaa. The situation is well documented here and there are also some reasons you could use to insert in your letter of concern. Grahame was after suggestions. The above issues not only concern family historians, but all historians and researchers. Not only do we need to write, but as family history groups, perhaps we could band together and hold meetings, as suggested to me, and let their politicans know exactly what you want from them. I feel it is vital that all individual family historians act and a loud voice be heard. If you plan to hold such a meeting, please let the publisher of AFTC know about it and it will get advertised in the magazine. Regards, Jan