Review of the Rail Safety Act 1998
A recent review of Western Australia's Rail Safety Act 1998 has affirmed the effectiveness of the Act in promoting and encouraging rail safety in the state.
The review by the Risk and Safety Consultancy Group, an independent consultant appointed to assess operation and effectiveness of the Act, found that rail safety performance in Western Australia is generally sound and often commendable with no passenger deaths as a result of railway operation in the past five years.
The review indicates there is no apparent need to change the current co-regulatory' model for rail safety regulation, which has also been affirmed at national level.
Download the report (512 KB pdf)
The government of Western Australia supports in principle the thirty two recommendations in the attached report.
Results of the state review will form part of a concurrent rail safety study by the National Transport Commission. The Commission is currently reviewing rail safety regulation in order to develop a more nationally consistent regime.
The Department and the Commission will jointly consult with stakeholders during the development of the national model for rail safety legislation. Further information can be found on the Commission's website www.ntc.gov.au/
The Department thanks members of the public and industry for contributing comments, ideas and suggestions to the review.
Rail Safety Act 1998
The Rail Safety Act 1998 provides the legal framework governing the Department's activities. We advance rail safety by:
- Accrediting rail owners and rail operators in accordance with Australian Standard 4292.1 (2006): Rail safety management;
- Ensuring rail owners and rail operators comply with the terms of their accreditation;
- Monitoring rail occurrences;
- Assessing trends and significant broad issues associated with maintaining appropriate safety standards and advising the industry;
- Arranging independent investigations into rail occurrences in order to make findings as to their causes and contributing factors;
- Reporting publicly on investigations and on related findings;
- Making recommendations designed to eliminate or reduce safety deficiencies;
- Developing policies, standards and guidelines for rail safety regulation; and
- Conducting special studies and special investigations on rail safety matters
Rail Safety Regulations1999
