Parliament has passed legislation intended to make rail travel safer on freight and passenger networks
September 14, 2012
Legislation
designed to make
rail
travel safer
on freight and passenger networks was passed in Parliament yesterday.
The Transport Safety Investigation Amendment Bill 2012 establishes Australia’s first national rail safety investigator, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB),
which
will investigate safety issues on freight and metropolitan passenger rail networks across Australia.
Australia’s rail safety system is currently a patchwork of regulators and laws.
Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says from January 1 next year
more safety investigations will be conducted.
“Better sharing of safety findings between the states and territories will save lives and prevent injuries,” Albanese says.
“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.”
Albanese says the Federal Government has provided $11.2 million to the ATSB to prepare for its role as Australia’s rail and maritime safety investigator.
“The ATSB’s rail safety investigation role will complement the work of the new National Rail Safety Regulator,” Albanese says.