The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will investigate safety events on all metropolitan passenger and freight rail networks across Australia following the recent passing of federal government legislation.
As part of the government’s plan to nationalise maritime, rail and heavy vehicle safety rules by 2013, Transport Minister Anthony Albanese introduced the legislation which will see the ATSB overseeing investigations conducted across a greater range of safety matters on a national scale.
The government said the ATSB has a proven record in conducting independent investigations that achieve practical improvements to transport safety, and the government has provided the ATSB with $11.2 million to enable it to prepare for its expanded role.
Currently, the government said Australia’s rail safety system is a patchwork of regulators and laws, but the reforms are expected to consolidate 23 existing regulators into three and boost national income by up to $30 billion over the next 20 years.