Do we have to keep hard copy records of electronic information?

Because the Privacy Act deals with ‘personal information’ rather than documentation, there is no obligation to retain original documents. However, you should keep in mind that you may have an obligation to keep original documentation under another law.

In terms of the Privacy Act, as long as all the information from the original document gets stored on the computer and the electronic records are secure, you don't need to keep the paper forms as well. Just make sure hard copy information is disposed of securely.

You may also want to keep a clear record of exactly how the original information was collected and processed since, just in case someone raises any concerns about the electronic record in the future.