The Federal Government has introduced legislation before Parliament aimed at improving rail safety. The Transport Safety Investigation Amendment Bill 2012 will establish the country’s first rail safety investigator by tasking the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with responsibility for investigating safety events on all metropolitan passenger and freight rail networks.

 

“This national approach will see more investigations conducted across a greater range of safety matters. It will mean better sharing and implementation of safety findings between states and territories which will save lives and prevent injuries,” Federal Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese said in a statement.

 

“The ATSB has a proven record in conducting independent investigations that achieve practical improvements to transport safety. The findings from the ATSB’s investigations will help improve overall safety and identify areas of improvement.”

 

The ATSB’s rail safety investigation role will complement the work of the new National Rail Safety Regulator.

 

The Bill forms part of a suite of reforms being introduced by the Federal Government across the transport sector that will see the country’s 23 separate state and federal regulators covering heavy vehicles, rail safety and maritime safety\ replaced by  three national regulators administering one set of nationwide laws.

 

The National Rail Safety Regulator means interstate rail operators will no longer have to deal with:

  • 7 separate regulatory authorities; and
  • 46 pieces of State/Territory and Commonwealth legislation including 7 rail safety Acts, 9 occupational health and safety Acts, and 7 dangerous goods Acts.