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QLD Govt joins National Rail Safety Regulator

On 1 July, Queensland joined the regulatory fold of the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR), with the newest branch office officially opening its doors on Monday, 3 July.
The Queensland branch delivers the final piece of the ONRSR puzzle, with the Brisbane office joining National Office and Central Branch (Adelaide) and the New South Wales (Sydney), Western Australia (Perth) and Victorian (Melbourne) branches.
ONRSR CEO and National Rail Safety Regulator, Sue McCarrey, said the establishment of jurisdiction in Queensland is a fantastic result and the culmination of a lot of hard work over many years.
“This is a great milestone for ONRSR and those that have been involved in the national reform to bring about a single national rail safety regulator…1 July marks the point when we will have responsibility for rail safety regulation in every Australian state and territory,” said McCarrey.
The establishment of the new office is the culmination of collaboration between the ONRSR and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), particularly those within the TMR Rail Regulation Unit.
Many of those within the new branch are joining from the Rail Regulation Unit and bring with them experience and local knowledge.
Leading the new team will be Mark Fernan, who was recently appointed to the role of Queensland Branch Director. He previously worked with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
With more than one third of accredited rail operators in Australia conducting their operations in more than one state, ONRSR provides a more national consistency in regulatory approach than what was achievable with separate states’ previously unique rail safety legislation.
Under the national transport reform agenda, with the ONRSR having assumed regulatory responsibility in Queensland from 12:01 on 1 July, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has taken on the role of national rail investigator in that state.
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) congratulated the Queensland Government, noting that it joining was an important step in the establishment of a national rail safety regulator, something the rail industry has called for over the past decade.
“It is great for industry to have ONRSR as the rail safety regulator in all Australian states and territories,” said Danny Broad, CEO, ARA.

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