About > Terms of Reference

ROLE OF THE PANEL

The key role of the Rail Safety Regulators Panel (RSRP) is to provide advice to Standing Committee on Transport (SCOT) Rail Group and National Transport Commission (NTC) on rail safety regulatory issues to help enhance safety and regulatory outcomes consistent with the co-regulatory framework. In performing this role the Panel will help facilitate nationally consistent outcomes by:-

  • - making co-ordinated and consistent decisions to achieve the uniform administrative objectives of legislation, which is based on national model legislation;
  • - developing national operational regulatory policy to support the nationally consistent application of rail safety legislation;
  • - developing and ensuring consistent application of key business processes for rail safety regulation;
  • - assisting individual regulators with the administration of regimes and monitoring adherence to uniform administrative processes;
  • - facilitating the development of national training packages for regulatory staff to meet agreed national competencies;
  • - developing guidelines for Australian Transport Council (ATC) approval through NTC;
  • - collectively advising on the operation of rail safety regulatory regimes and inputting into national forums through the Chair;
  • - sharing national and international experience and knowledge and investigation findings;
  • - analysing and evaluating investigation findings and recommendations, assessing their impacts on industry and regulators and making recommendations, where appropriate for improvements to regulatory frameworks or industry standards; and
  • - facilitating the collection and strategic analysis of rail safety data to inform regulatory decision making and improvement of regulatory systems.

Regulators are individually responsible for the administration of the regulatory regime within their own jurisdiction.

The RSRP reports to the SCOT Rail Group on all matters, with the exception of administrative decisions in regard to matters involving accreditation and compliance activities.

MEMBERSHIP

The RSRP will comprise of a nominee of the Rail Safety Regulator in all States, the Northern Territory and New Zealand.

QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS

Members should possess the skills, experience and authority to represent their respective organisations appropriately in this forum and to contribute actively and constructively to the wide range of rail safety issues at a national level.

CHAIR AND SECRETARIAT

The Chair of the RSRP will be appointed by SCOT Rail Group for a period of 24 months, or as otherwise determined by SCOT Rail Group. The incumbent Chair is responsible for the coordination of Secretariat services and for maintaining a consolidated collection of Minutes and business papers on behalf of the RSRP. The location of the Secretariat is proposed by the chair and endorsed by the RSRP.

Funding for the secretariat is contributed to by all jurisdictions, based on train and tram kms, Contributions are to cover base salary, travel expenses and all associated on-costs for the secretariat together with travel expenses for the Chair when representing the panel at required meetings.

DECISION MAKING & IMPLEMENTATION

Decisions of the RSRP are made by consensus. If a consensus cannot be reached reasons for this will be clearly documented and if necessary referred to SCOT Rail Group for direction or decision.

CONSULTATIVE MECHANISMS

The RSRP formally consults with the industry through the Rail Safety Consultative Forum which meets three times per year in Melbourne. The RSRP formally consults the NTC on the development and implementation of regulatory reform through its representation on various committees. The Chair also attends SCOT Rail Group meetings as an observer and to provide an update on work being undertaken by the Panel.

FUNCTIONS OF THE PANEL

  • - Facilitate the management of accreditation and variations to accreditation through application of national and standardised approaches to rail organisations operating in more than one jurisdiction.
  • - Coordinate and monitor the implementation of operational reforms that address rail safety and uniform administration and report on these to the SCOT Rail Group.
  • - Develop and implement approved key business processes for rail safety regulation.
  • - Recognise industry codes which have been developed in accordance with ATC approved national guidelines.
  • - Develop and implement a national audit program that ensures a co-ordinated approach to safety auditing of accredited rail organisations operating in more than one jurisdiction.
  • - Develop nationally consistent education and awareness packages to assist rail industry operators and regulators to meet and understand their rail safety obligations.
  • - Work with the (NTC) to develop relevant national guidelines for approval through the Australian Transport Council (ATC) approval process.
  • - Identify major risks and areas of concern in relation to rail safety and regulatory matters and consult with industry in order to develop or recommend actions to address these.
  • - Provide coordinated advice to policy groups such as the SCOT Rail Group or the NTC (or similar groups convened by SCOT Rail Group or the NTC) in relation to rail safety regulation.
  • - Develop and maintain a National Safety Data System to ensure reliable, credible and consistent information exchange between jurisdictions, industry and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) allowing agreed data to be published.

FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

The RSRP will meet on a quarterly basis but may hold special meetings as required. Scheduled meetings will rotate between member locations on an agreed basis.

Any special meetings of the full RSRP will be held at a location, or via teleconference, as appropriate to the issue.

All working groups established by the RSRP are to be chaired by a member of the RSRP.

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