Thanks @Rich87. I agree this is a key issue. In different situations, I can see institutions themselves maintaining their information in their own systems, or using something like Index Herbariorum as a registrar on their behalf, or perhaps getting assistance from the likes of iDigBio or the Atlas of Living Australia managing information at a national scale.
My view is that we need to map out a model for access permissions for managing and editing this information and that institutions should have the authority to claim their own records to be managed in whatever way they see fit. They should have the ability to delegate responsibility to IH, iDigBio, ALA, etc. or subsequently to reclaim the responsibility themselves. It may be that we would need a mechanism to ensure that institutions remained responsive and technically capable to maintain this information.