National Transport Commission (Model Legislation - Rail Safety Bill) Regulations 2006

In force

Administered by

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

This item is authorised by the following title:

National Transport Commission Act 2003

Superseded version

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F2006L04074

19 December 2006 - 19 December 2008

Table of contents

1 Name of Regulations These Regulations are the REF Citation \*charformat \* MERGEFORMAT National Transport Commission (Model Legislation — Rail Safety Bill) Regulations 2006 . 2 Commencement These Regulations commence on the day after they are registered. 3 Model legislation — Rail Safety Bill For section 7 of the National Transport Commission Act 2003 (the NTC Act), Schedule 1 sets out model legislation, in the form of a Bill for an Act, about rail safety. Note 1 The model legislation set out in Schedule 1 does not have the force of law (see paragraph 7 (2) (a) of the NTC Act). Note 2 These Regulations must be made in accordance with the Agreement (see subparagraph 3 (b) (i) of the NTC Act). Note 3 These Regulations are not subject to disallowance — see the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, subsection 44 (2) (table, item 44) and the Legislative Instruments Regulations 2004, regulation 8 and Schedule 2 item 7. Note 4 These Regulations are not subject to sunsetting — see the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, subsection 54 (2) (table, item 51) and the Legislative Instruments Regulations 2004, regulation 9 and Schedule 3 item 4. Note 5 The text set out in Schedule 1 is that of a draft Bill prepared for the National Transport Commission and approved by the Australian Transport Council on 2 June 2006, but never actually enacted. Schedule 1 Text of the draft Rail Safety Bill 2006 (regulation 3) Contents TOC \o "1-9" \t "HC,1, HP,2, HD,3, HS,4, HR,5, RGHead,7, Schedule title,6, Schedule part,8,Schedule Division,8, RX.SC,8, Dictionary Heading,9, Note Heading,9" Introductory note from the National Transport Commission PAGEREF _Toc152146004 \h 2 Part 1 Preliminary 1 Purpose PAGEREF _Toc152146006 \h 10 2 Commencement PAGEREF _Toc152146007 \h 11 3 Objects of Act PAGEREF _Toc152146008 \h 11 4 Definitions PAGEREF _Toc152146009 \h 11 5 Declaration of substance to be a drug PAGEREF _Toc152146010 \h 17 6 Railways to which this Act does not apply PAGEREF _Toc152146011 \h 18 7 The concept of ensuring safety PAGEREF _Toc152146012 \h 18 8 Rail safety work PAGEREF _Toc152146013 \h 19 9 Examples [local variations] PAGEREF _Toc152146014 \h 20 10 Notes [local variations] PAGEREF _Toc152146015 \h 20 11 Crown to be bound PAGEREF _Toc152146016 \h 20 Part 2 Occupational Health and Safety legislation 12 Act adds to protection provided by OHS legislation PAGEREF _Toc152146018 \h 21 13 OHS legislation prevails PAGEREF _Toc152146019 \h 21 14 Compliance with this Act is no defence to prosecution under OHS legislation. PAGEREF _Toc152146020 \h 21 15 Relationship between duties under this Act and OHS legislation PAGEREF _Toc152146021 \h 22 16 No double jeopardy PAGEREF _Toc152146022 \h 22 Part 3 Administration Division 1 The Rail Safety Regulator 17 The Rail Safety Regulator PAGEREF _Toc152146025 \h 22 18 Functions PAGEREF _Toc152146026 \h 22 19 Information to be included in annual reports PAGEREF _Toc152146027 \h 23 20 Delegation PAGEREF _Toc152146028 \h 23 21 Rail Safety Regulator may exercise functions of rail safety officers PAGEREF _Toc152146029 \h 24 Division 2 Rail Safety Officers 22 Appointment PAGEREF _Toc152146031 \h 24 23 Reciprocal powers of rail safety officers PAGEREF _Toc152146032 \h 25 24 Identification cards for rail safety officers PAGEREF _Toc152146033 \h 25 25 Rail safety officer must not exercise functions without identification card PAGEREF _Toc152146034 \h 26 26 Display and production of identification card PAGEREF _Toc152146035 \h 26 27 Return of identification cards PAGEREF _Toc152146036 \h 27 Part 4 Rail Safety Division 1 General safety duties 28 Safety duties of rail transport operators PAGEREF _Toc152146039 \h 27 29 Duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers etc PAGEREF _Toc152146040 \h 29 Division 2 Accreditation 30 Purpose of accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146042 \h 31 31 Accreditation required for railway operations PAGEREF _Toc152146043 \h 31 32 Purpose for which accreditation may be granted PAGEREF _Toc152146044 \h 32 33 Application for accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146045 \h 32 34 What applicant for accreditation must demonstrate PAGEREF _Toc152146046 \h 33 35 Rail Safety Regulator may direct applicants to co-ordinate and co-operate in applications PAGEREF _Toc152146047 \h 34 36 Co-ordination between Rail Safety Regulators PAGEREF _Toc152146048 \h 35 37 Determination of application PAGEREF _Toc152146049 \h 35 38 Prescribed conditions and restrictions PAGEREF _Toc152146050 \h 37 39 Penalty for breach of condition or restriction PAGEREF _Toc152146051 \h 37 40 Annual fees PAGEREF _Toc152146052 \h 37 41 Late payment fees PAGEREF _Toc152146053 \h 37 42 Waiver of fees PAGEREF _Toc152146054 \h 37 44 Revocation or suspension of accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146055 \h 38 45 Immediate suspension of accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146056 \h 39 46 Keeping and making available documents for public inspection PAGEREF _Toc152146057 \h 40 47 Application for variation of accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146058 \h 41 48 Where application relates to co-operative railway operations or operations in another jurisdiction PAGEREF _Toc152146059 \h 41 49 Determination of application for variation PAGEREF _Toc152146060 \h 42 50 Prescribed conditions and restrictions PAGEREF _Toc152146061 \h 43 51 Rail Safety Regulator may direct amendment of a safety management system PAGEREF _Toc152146062 \h 43 52 Variation of conditions and restrictions PAGEREF _Toc152146063 \h 43 53 Rail Safety Regulator may make changes to conditions or restrictions PAGEREF _Toc152146064 \h 44 54 Accreditation cannot be transferred or assigned PAGEREF _Toc152146065 \h 45 55 Sale or transfer of railway operations by accredited person PAGEREF _Toc152146066 \h 45 Division 3 Private sidings 56 Exemption from accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146068 \h 46 Division 4 Safety management 57 Safety management system PAGEREF _Toc152146070 \h 46 58 Compliance with safety management system PAGEREF _Toc152146071 \h 48 59 Review of safety management system PAGEREF _Toc152146072 \h 49 60 Safety performance reports PAGEREF _Toc152146073 \h 49 61 Interface co-ordination PAGEREF _Toc152146074 \h 50 62 Security management plan PAGEREF _Toc152146075 \h 51 63 Emergency plan PAGEREF _Toc152146076 \h 51 64 Health and fitness management program PAGEREF _Toc152146077 \h 52 65 Alcohol and drug management program PAGEREF _Toc152146078 \h 52 66 Testing for presence of alcohol or drugs PAGEREF _Toc152146079 \h 52 67 Fatigue management program PAGEREF _Toc152146080 \h 53 68 Assessment of competence PAGEREF _Toc152146081 \h 53 69 Identification for rail safety workers PAGEREF _Toc152146082 \h 54 70 Duties of rail safety workers PAGEREF _Toc152146083 \h 54 71 Contractors to comply with safety management system PAGEREF _Toc152146084 \h 55 Division 5 Information about rail safety etc 72 Rail transport operators to provide information PAGEREF _Toc152146086 \h 56 Division 6 Investigating and reporting by rail transport operators 73 Notification of notifiable occurrences PAGEREF _Toc152146088 \h 57 74 Investigation of notifiable occurrences PAGEREF _Toc152146089 \h 57 Division 7 Audit and inspections by Rail Safety Regulator 75 Inspection of railway operations of rail transport operators PAGEREF _Toc152146091 \h 58 Part 5 Enforcement Division 1 Entry to places by rail safety officers 76 Power to enter places PAGEREF _Toc152146094 \h 59 77 Limitation on entry powers — places used for residential purposes PAGEREF _Toc152146095 \h 60 78 Notice of entry PAGEREF _Toc152146096 \h 60 Division 2 General enforcement powers 79 General powers after entering a place PAGEREF _Toc152146098 \h 61 80 Use of assistants and equipment PAGEREF _Toc152146099 \h 62 81 Use of electronic equipment PAGEREF _Toc152146100 \h 62 82 Use of equipment to examine or process things PAGEREF _Toc152146101 \h 63 83 Securing a site PAGEREF _Toc152146102 \h 63 Division 3 Search warrants 84 Search warrant PAGEREF _Toc152146104 \h 64 85 Seizure of things not mentioned in the warrant PAGEREF _Toc152146105 \h 65 Division 4 Powers to support seizure 86 Directions relating to seizure PAGEREF _Toc152146107 \h 66 87 Rail safety officer may direct a thing’s return PAGEREF _Toc152146108 \h 67 88 Receipt for seized things PAGEREF _Toc152146109 \h 67 89 Access to seized thing PAGEREF _Toc152146110 \h 67 90 Embargo notices PAGEREF _Toc152146111 \h 68 Division 5 Forfeiture 91 Return of seized things PAGEREF _Toc152146113 \h 69 92 Forfeiture PAGEREF _Toc152146114 \h 70 93 Forfeiture on conviction PAGEREF _Toc152146115 \h 71 94 Dealing with forfeited sample or thing PAGEREF _Toc152146116 \h 71 Division 6 Directions 95 Rail safety officers may direct certain persons to give assistance PAGEREF _Toc152146118 \h 71 96 Power to direct name and address be given PAGEREF _Toc152146119 \h 72 97 Failure to give name or address PAGEREF _Toc152146120 \h 73 98 Power to direct production of documents PAGEREF _Toc152146121 \h 73 99 Failure to produce document PAGEREF _Toc152146122 \h 74 Division 7 Improvement notices 100 Improvement notices PAGEREF _Toc152146124 \h 74 101 Contravention of improvement notice PAGEREF _Toc152146125 \h 76 102 Withdrawal or amendment of improvement notices PAGEREF _Toc152146126 \h 77 103 Proceedings for offences not affected by improvement notices PAGEREF _Toc152146127 \h 77 104 Rail Safety Regulator to arrange for rail safety work required by improvement notice to be carried out PAGEREF _Toc152146128 \h 78 Division 8 Prohibition notices 105 Prohibition notice PAGEREF _Toc152146130 \h 78 106 Contravention of prohibition notice PAGEREF _Toc152146131 \h 80 107 Oral direction before prohibition notice served PAGEREF _Toc152146132 \h 80 108 Withdrawal or amendment of prohibition notice PAGEREF _Toc152146133 \h 81 109 Proceedings for offences not affected by prohibition notices PAGEREF _Toc152146134 \h 81 Division 9 Miscellaneous 110 Directions may be given under more than one provision PAGEREF _Toc152146136 \h 81 111 Temporary closing of railway crossings, bridges etc PAGEREF _Toc152146137 \h 82 112 Restoring rail infrastructure and rolling stock etc to original condition after action taken PAGEREF _Toc152146138 \h 82 113 Use of force PAGEREF _Toc152146139 \h 83 114 Power to use force against persons to be exercised only by police officers PAGEREF _Toc152146140 \h 83 115 Protection from incrimination PAGEREF _Toc152146141 \h 83 Part 6 Review of decisions 116 Application of Ombudsman legislation to Rail Safety Regulator and rail safety officers [local variations] PAGEREF _Toc152146143 \h 84 117 Reviewable decisions PAGEREF _Toc152146144 \h 84 118 Review by the Rail Safety Regulator PAGEREF _Toc152146145 \h 87 119 Review by the tribunal [or court – local variations] PAGEREF _Toc152146146 \h 88 Part 7 General liability and evidentiary provisions Division 1 General 120 Proceedings for offences PAGEREF _Toc152146149 \h 89 121 Period within which proceedings for offences may be commenced PAGEREF _Toc152146150 \h 89 122 Authority to take proceedings [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146151 \h 90 123 Vicarious responsibility [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146152 \h 91 124 Records and evidence from records PAGEREF _Toc152146153 \h 92 125 Certificate evidence PAGEREF _Toc152146154 \h 93 126 Proof of appointments and signatures unnecessary PAGEREF _Toc152146155 \h 93 127 Multiple offences [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146156 \h 93 128 Offences by bodies corporate, partnerships, associations and employees [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146157 \h 94 Division 2 Discrimination against employees 129 Dismissal or other victimisation of employee PAGEREF _Toc152146159 \h 95 130 Defendant bears onus of proof PAGEREF _Toc152146160 \h 97 131 Order for damages or reinstatement PAGEREF _Toc152146161 \h 97 Division 3 False or misleading information 132 False or misleading information provided to Rail Safety Regulator or officials PAGEREF _Toc152146163 \h 97 Division 4 Other offences 133 Obstructing or hindering rail safety officers PAGEREF _Toc152146165 \h 99 134 Offence to impersonate rail safety officer [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146166 \h 99 135 Not to interfere with train, tram etc PAGEREF _Toc152146167 \h 100 136 Applying brake or emergency device PAGEREF _Toc152146168 \h 100 137 Stopping a train or tram PAGEREF _Toc152146169 \h 100 Division 5 Infringement notices 138 Infringement notices PAGEREF _Toc152146171 \h 101 139 Infringement penalty PAGEREF _Toc152146172 \h 101 Division 6 Enforceable voluntary undertakings 140 Rail Safety Regulator may accept undertakings PAGEREF _Toc152146174 \h 101 141 Enforcement of undertakings PAGEREF _Toc152146175 \h 102 Division 7 Court-based sanctions 142 Fines PAGEREF _Toc152146177 \h 102 143 Daily penalty for continuing offences [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146178 \h 102 144 Commercial benefits order [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146179 \h 103 145 Supervisory intervention order [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146180 \h 105 146 Contravention of supervisory intervention order [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146181 \h 107 147 Exclusion orders [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146182 \h 107 148 Contravention of exclusion order [non-core provision] PAGEREF _Toc152146183 \h 108 Part 8 General Division 1 Confidentiality 149 Confidentiality PAGEREF _Toc152146186 \h 109 Division 2 Civil liability 150 Civil liability not affected by Division 1 or 4 of Part 4 PAGEREF _Toc152146188 \h 110 151 Indemnity of persons authorised by Rail Safety Regulator and rail safety officers PAGEREF _Toc152146189 \h 110 152 Immunity for reporting unfit rail safety worker PAGEREF _Toc152146190 \h 111 Division 3 Compliance codes and guidelines 153 Approval of compliance codes and guidelines PAGEREF _Toc152146192 \h 112 154 Effect of compliance code PAGEREF _Toc152146193 \h 113 155 Effect of complying with a compliance code PAGEREF _Toc152146194 \h 113 156 Disallowance of compliance codes or guidelines PAGEREF _Toc152146195 \h 114 Division 4 Miscellaneous 157 Recovery of certain costs PAGEREF _Toc152146197 \h 114 158 Recovery of amounts due PAGEREF _Toc152146198 \h 114 159 Compliance with conditions of accreditation PAGEREF _Toc152146199 \h 115 160 Prescribed persons PAGEREF _Toc152146200 \h 115 161 Contracting out prohibited PAGEREF _Toc152146201 \h 115 162 Regulations PAGEREF _Toc152146202 \h 115 Part 9 Transitional 163 Transitional PAGEREF _Toc152146204 \h 117 Part 10 Consequential amendments Introductory note from the National Transport Commission
1 Purpose
2 Commencement
3 Objects of Act
4 Definitions
5 Declaration of substance to be a drug
6 Railways to which this Act does not apply
7 The concept of ensuring safety
8 Rail safety work
9 Examples [local variations]
10 Notes [local variations]
11 Crown to be bound
12 Act adds to protection provided by OHS legislation
13 OHS legislation prevails
14 Compliance with this Act is no defence to prosecution under OHS legislation.
15 Relationship between duties under this Act and OHS legislation
16 No double jeopardy
17 The Rail Safety Regulator
18 Functions
19 Information to be included in annual reports
20 Delegation
21 Rail Safety Regulator may exercise functions of rail safety officers
22 Appointment
23 Reciprocal powers of rail safety officers
24 Identification cards for rail safety officers
25 Rail safety officer must not exercise functions without identification card
26 Display and production of identification card
27 Return of identification cards
28 Safety duties of rail transport operators
29 Duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers etc
30 Purpose of accreditation
31 Accreditation required for railway operations
32 Purpose for which accreditation may be granted
33 Application for accreditation
34 What applicant for accreditation must demonstrate
35 Rail Safety Regulator may direct applicants to co-ordinate and co-operate in applications
36 Co-ordination between Rail Safety Regulators
37 Determination of application
38 Prescribed conditions and restrictions
39 Penalty for breach of condition or restriction
40 Annual fees
41 Late payment fees
42 Waiver of fees
44 Revocation or suspension of accreditation
45 Immediate suspension of accreditation
46 Keeping and making available documents for public inspection
47 Application for variation of accreditation
48 Where application relates to co-operative railway operations or operations in another jurisdiction
49 Determination of application for variation
50 Prescribed conditions and restrictions
51 Rail Safety Regulator may direct amendment of a safety management system
52 Variation of conditions and restrictions
53 Rail Safety Regulator may make changes to conditions or restrictions
54 Accreditation cannot be transferred or assigned
55 Sale or transfer of railway operations by accredited person
56 Exemption from accreditation
57 Safety management system
58 Compliance with safety management system
59 Review of safety management system
60 Safety performance reports
61 Interface co-ordination
62 Security management plan
63 Emergency plan
64 Health and fitness management program
65 Alcohol and drug management program
66 Testing for presence of alcohol or drugs
67 Fatigue management program
68 Assessment of competence
69 Identification for rail safety workers
70 Duties of rail safety workers
71 Contractors to comply with safety management system
72 Rail transport operators to provide information
73 Notification of notifiable occurrences
74 Investigation of notifiable occurrences
75 Inspection of railway operations of rail transport operators
76 Power to enter places
77 Limitation on entry powers — places used for residential purposes
78 Notice of entry
79 General powers after entering a place
80 Use of assistants and equipment
81 Use of electronic equipment
82 Use of equipment to examine or process things
83 Securing a site
84 Search warrant
85 Seizure of things not mentioned in the warrant
86 Directions relating to seizure
87 Rail safety officer may direct a thing’s return
88 Receipt for seized things
89 Access to seized thing
90 Embargo notices
91 Return of seized things
92 Forfeiture
93 Forfeiture on conviction
94 Dealing with forfeited sample or thing
95 Rail safety officers may direct certain persons to give assistance
96 Power to direct name and address be given
97 Failure to give name or address
98 Power to direct production of documents
99 Failure to produce document
100 Improvement notices
101 Contravention of improvement notice
102 Withdrawal or amendment of improvement notices
103 Proceedings for offences not affected by improvement notices
104 Rail Safety Regulator to arrange for rail safety work required by improvement notice to be carried out
105 Prohibition notice
106 Contravention of prohibition notice
107 Oral direction before prohibition notice served
108 Withdrawal or amendment of prohibition notice
109 Proceedings for offences not affected by prohibition notices
110 Directions may be given under more than one provision
111 Temporary closing of railway crossings, bridges etc
112 Restoring rail infrastructure and rolling stock etc to original condition after action taken
113 Use of force
114 Power to use force against persons to be exercised only by police officers
115 Protection from incrimination
116 Application of Ombudsman legislation to Rail Safety Regulator and rail safety officers [local variations]
117 Reviewable decisions
118 Review by the Rail Safety Regulator
119 Review by the tribunal [or court – local variations]
120 Proceedings for offences
121 Period within which proceedings for offences may be commenced
122 Authority to take proceedings [non-core provision]
123 Vicarious responsibility [non-core provision]
124 Records and evidence from records
125 Certificate evidence
126 Proof of appointments and signatures unnecessary
127 Multiple offences [non-core provision]
128 Offences by bodies corporate, partnerships, associations and employees [non-core provision]
129 Dismissal or other victimisation of employee
130 Defendant bears onus of proof
131 Order for damages or reinstatement
132 False or misleading information provided to Rail Safety Regulator or officials
133 Obstructing or hindering rail safety officers
134 Offence to impersonate rail safety officer [non-core provision]
135 Not to interfere with train, tram etc
136 Applying brake or emergency device
137 Stopping a train or tram
138 Infringement notices
139 Infringement penalty
140 Rail Safety Regulator may accept undertakings
141 Enforcement of undertakings
142 Fines
143 Daily penalty for continuing offences [non-core provision]
144 Commercial benefits order [non-core provision]
145 Supervisory intervention order [non-core provision]
146 Contravention of supervisory intervention order [non-core provision]
147 Exclusion orders [non-core provision]
148 Contravention of exclusion order [non-core provision]
149 Confidentiality
150 Civil liability not affected by Division 1 or 4 of Part 4
151 Indemnity of persons authorised by Rail Safety Regulator and rail safety officers
152 Immunity for reporting unfit rail safety worker
153 Approval of compliance codes and guidelines
154 Effect of compliance code
155 Effect of complying with a compliance code
156 Disallowance of compliance codes or guidelines
157 Recovery of certain costs
158 Recovery of amounts due
159 Compliance with conditions of accreditation
160 Prescribed persons
161 Contracting out prohibited
162 Regulations
163 Transitional

National Transport Commission (Model Legislation - Rail Safety Bill) Regulations 2006

Legislation text