Ministerial Statement: Rail safety laws track a safer way

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Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
12/02/2008

Rail safety laws track a safer way

New rail safety legislation introduced to Queensland Parliament today aims to make train travel safer for passengers and improve safety for rail workers across the state.

Transport Minister John Mickel told parliament that the Transport (Rail Safety) Bill 2008 would mean rail operators and government working hand-in-hand to boost safety standards.

The bill requires all operators to have and implement a range of plans, including fatigue and emergency management plans, as well as raising skill requirements for rail safety workers.

"Rail safety is entering a new era and this legislation will bring Queensland in line with national standards that all states and territories are working towards," he said.

"The introduction of this bill shows the Bligh Government's commitment to improving safety on and around Queensland's 9800 kilometres of diverse rail corridor."

The Transport (Rail Safety) Bill is part of a nationwide move to rail safety consistency, agreed by Australian, state and territory government transport ministers in 2006.

"Fatal incidents such as those that occurred at Waterfall and Glenbrook in New South Wales, and Kerang in Victoria identified the need for improvements to rail safety legislation across the country," Mr Mickel said.

"The legislation has been developed after extensive consultation with the rail industry, including commercial and not-for-profit rail transport operators, rail and associated unions, and relevant state and Australian government agencies."

Mr Mickel said a key element of the legislation was that it committed Queensland to working with rail regulators in other states on decisions about accrediting operators.

"In a practical sense, this means that if a rail operator has conditions attached to its accreditation in another state or territory, we will know about those conditions here and can match them where required," he said.

Other key requirements of the legislation include:

? All operators will have to have and implement plans covering security management,
emergency management, health and fitness management, alcohol and drug management, and fatigue management. Regulations providing detailed requirements for those plans will be developed in 2008 and operators will have 12 months to comply.

? Operators will have to consult with people likely to be affected, including employees and contractors, when they develop or update their safety management systems.

? All rail safety workers have to have relevant skills and knowledge

? The owners and managers of more than 320 privately-owned rail sidings across the state will have to register their sidings and develop plans to co-ordinate their trains with the rail line they connect to.

The legislation will affect 26 accredited railways operating in Queensland including Queensland Rail, Pacific National and the Airtrain, as well as 14 tourist and heritage rail operations.

February 12, 2008

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