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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
TASMANIA
__________
RAIL SAFETY BILL 2009
__________
CONTENTS
PART 1 PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
2. Commencement
3. Objects of Act
4. Interpretation
5. Railways to which this Act does not apply
6. What "ensuring safety" means
7. What "rail safety work" means
8. Act binds Crown
9. Examples
10. Notes
PART 2 RAIL SAFETY DUTIES
11. Safety duties of rail transport operators
12. Duties of rail transport operators extend to contractors
13. Duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers &c.
PART 3 ACCREDITATION
Division 1 Application for accreditation
14. Purpose of accreditation
15. Accreditation required for railway operations
[Bill 79]-XI
16. Accreditation not required for private sidings, but private sidings
may be registered
17. Purpose for which accreditation may be granted
18. Application for accreditation
19. What applicant for accreditation must demonstrate
20. Rail Safety Regulator may direct applicants to coordinate and
cooperate in applications
21. Coordination between Rail Safety Regulators
22. Determination of application
23. Prescribed conditions and restrictions
24. Offence of breach of condition or restriction
Division 2 Fees
25. Minister to determine fees
26. Payment of annual accreditation and registration fees
27. Late payment fees
28. Waiver of fees
Division 3 Variation and ending of accreditation
29. Surrender of accreditation
30. Revocation or suspension of accreditation
31. Immediate suspension of accreditation
32. Keeping and making available documents for public inspection
33. Application for variation of accreditation
34. Where application relates to cooperative railway operations or
operations in another jurisdiction
35. Determination of application for variation
36. Prescribed conditions and restrictions
37. Variation of conditions and restrictions
38. Rail Safety Regulator may make changes to conditions or
restrictions
39. Accreditation cannot be transferred or assigned
40. Sale or transfer of railway operations by accredited person
2
PART 4 SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Division 1 Safety management systems
41. Safety management system
42. Rail transport operator to implement and comply with safety
management system
43. Contractors to comply with safety management system
44. Review of safety management system
45. Rail Safety Regulator may direct amendment of a safety
management system
46. Safety performance reports
Division 2 Interface coordination
47. Interface co-ordination rail transport operators
48. Interface co-ordination rail infrastructure manager public
roads
49. Interface co-ordination rail infrastructure manager roads
other than public roads
50. Interface co-ordination road manager public roads and other
roads
51. Identification and assessment of risks
52. Interface agreements
53. Rail Safety Regulator may give directions
54. Register of interface agreements
PART 5 PLANS, PROGRAMS AND DUTIES OF RAIL SAFETY
WORKERS
Division 1 Plans and programs
55. Security management plan
56. Emergency management plan
57. Health and fitness management program
58. Alcohol and drug management program
59. Fatigue management program
Division 2 Rail safety workers
60. Competence of rail safety workers to be assessed
3
61. Rail safety workers to have identification
62. Duties of rail safety workers
PART 6 DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AND TESTING
63. Use of alcohol and drugs by rail safety workers
64. Testing for drugs and alcohol
PART 7 INFORMATION, INVESTIGATION BY RAIL TRANSPORT
OPERATORS AND AUDIT
65. Rail transport operators to provide information
66. Notification of certain occurrences
67. Rail transport operators may be required to investigate notifiable
occurrences
68. Audit by Rail Safety Regulator of railway operations
PART 8 INVESTIGATIONS
69. Appointment of investigator
70. Conduct of investigation
71. Powers of investigator
72. Report of findings of investigator
73. Rights and obligations of persons in relation to investigations
PART 9 ENFORCEMENT
Division 1 Entry to places by rail safety officers
74. Power to enter places
75. Limitation on entry powers places used for residential
purposes
76. Notice of entry
Division 2 General enforcement powers
77. General powers after entering a place
78. Use of assistants and equipment
79. Use of electronic equipment
80. Use of equipment to examine or process things
81. Securing a site
4
Division 3 Search warrants
82. Search warrants
83. Warrants by telephone or other electronic means
84. Notice to be given of entry under warrant
85. Seizure of things not mentioned in warrant
Division 4 Powers to support seizure
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
Division 5 Forfeiture
91. Return of seized things
92. Forfeiture
93. Dealing with forfeited sample or thing
Division 6 Directions
94. Directions to certain persons to give assistance
95. Directions to give name and address
96. Direction to produce documents
Division 7 Improvement notices
97. Improvement notices
98. Contravention of improvement notice
99. Withdrawal or amendment of improvement notices
100. Proceedings for offences not affected by improvement notices
101. Rail Safety Regulator to arrange for rail safety work required by
improvement notice to be carried out
Division 8 Prohibition notices
102. Prohibition notice
103. Contravention of prohibition notice
104. Oral direction before prohibition notice served
105. Withdrawal or amendment of prohibition notice
5
106. Proceedings for offences not affected by prohibition notices
Division 9 Miscellaneous
107. Directions may be given under more than one provision
108. Temporary closing of railway crossings, bridges, &c.
109. Restoring rail infrastructure and rolling stock &c. to original
condition after action taken
110. Use of force
111. Power to use force against persons to be exercised only by police
officers
112. Protection from incrimination
PART 10 REVIEW OF DECISIONS
113. Reviewable decisions
114. Review by Rail Safety Regulator
115. Review by Magistrates Court (Administrative Appeals Division)
PART 11 GENERAL LIABILITY AND EVIDENTIARY PROVISIONS
Division 1 General
116. Period within which proceedings for offences may be
commenced
117. Authority to take proceedings
118. Vicarious responsibility
119. Records and evidence from records
120. Certificate evidence
121. Proof of appointments and signatures unnecessary
122. Multiple offences
123. Offences by bodies corporate, partnerships, associations and
employees
Division 2 Discrimination against employees
124. Dismissal or other victimisation of employee
125. Defendant bears onus of proof
126. Order for damages or reinstatement
6
Division 3 False or misleading information
127. False or misleading information provided to Rail Safety
Regulator or officials
Division 4 Other offences
128. Obstructing or hindering rail safety officers
129. Impersonation of rail safety officer
130. Interference with train, tram &c.
131. Applying brake or emergency device
132. Stopping train or tram
Division 5 Infringement notices
133. Infringement notices
Division 6 Enforceable voluntary undertakings
134. Rail Safety Regulator may accept undertakings
135. Enforcement of undertakings
Division 7 Court-based sanctions
136. Daily penalty for continuing offences
137. Commercial benefits order
138. Supervisory intervention order
139. Contravention of supervisory intervention order
140. Exclusion orders
141. Contravention of exclusion order
PART 12 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATION
142. Act adds to protection provided by OHS legislation
143. OHS legislation prevails
144. Compliance with this Act is no defence to prosecution under
OHS legislation
145. Evidence of contravention under this Act is admissible in OHS
legislation proceedings
146. No double jeopardy
7
PART 13 ADMINISTRATION
Division 1 Rail Safety Regulator
147. Rail Safety Regulator
148. Functions
149. Annual reports
150. Delegation
151. Rail Safety Regulator may exercise functions of rail safety
officers
Division 2 Rail safety officers
152. Appointment
153. Reciprocal powers of rail safety officers
154. Identification cards for rail safety officers
155. Rail safety officer must not exercise functions without
identification card
156. Display and production of identification card
157. Return of identification cards
PART 14 MISCELLANEOUS
Division 1 Confidentiality
158. Confidentiality
Division 2 Civil liability
159. Civil liability not affected by Part 2, 4 or 5
160. Exclusion of personal liability
161. Immunity for reporting unfit rail safety worker
Division 3 Compliance codes and guidelines
162. Approval of compliance codes and guidelines
163. Effect of compliance code
164. Effect of complying with compliance code
Division 4 Other matters
165. Exemptions
166. Recovery of certain costs
167. Recovery of amounts due
8
168. Compliance with conditions of accreditation
169. Prescribed persons
170. Contracting-out prohibited
171. Regulations
172. Administration of Act
PART 15 TRANSITIONAL
173. Interpretation of this Part
174. Saving of appointment of Rail Safety Regulator
175. Saving of accreditation of persons under former Act
176. Registration of private sidings
177. Applications and administrative acts and decisions
178. Application of provisions in respect of existing operators
PART 16 ABT RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT ACT 1999 AMENDED
179. Principal Act
180. Section 30 repealed
PART 17 EMU BAY RAILWAY (OPERATION AND ACQUISITION)
ACT 2009 AMENDED
181. Principal Act
182. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
183. Section 4 amended (Authority of PN Tas (Operations) Pty
Limited to operate rail business on Emu Bay Railway)
PART 18 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 AMENDED
184. Principal Act
185. Section 87 amended (Exemption from rates)
PART 19 POLICE OFFENCES ACT 1935 AMENDED
186. Principal Act
187. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
PART 20 RAIL COMPANY ACT 2009 AMENDED
188. Principal Act
189. Section 4 amended (Interpretation)
9
PART 21 RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ACT 2007 AMENDED
190. Principal Act
191. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
192. Section 10 repealed
PART 22 LEGISLATION REPEALED AND RESCINDED
193. Legislation repealed
194. Legislation rescinded
PART 23 FURTHER CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
195. Amendment of Emu Bay Railway (Operation and Acquisition)
Act 2009
196. Amendment of Boundary Fences Act 1908
SCHEDULE 1 LEGISLATION REPEALED
SCHEDULE 2 LEGISLATION RESCINDED
10
RAIL SAFETY BILL 2009
(Brought in by the Minister for Infrastructure, the Honourable
Graeme Lindsay Sturges)
A BILL FOR
An Act to make provision for rail safety and other matters
that form part of a system of nationally consistent rail
safety laws, to repeal the Rail Safety Act 1997 and for other
purposes
Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by
and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and
House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:
PART 1 PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Rail Safety Act
2009.
2. Commencement
(1) The provisions of this Act, except Part 23,
commence on a day or days to be proclaimed.
(2) If this Act receives the Royal Assent before
section 12 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Emu Bay
Railway (Operation and Acquisition) Act 2009
commence, section 195 commences on the day
on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
[Bill 79] 11
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Act No. of
s. 3 Part 1 Preliminary
(3) If this Act receives the Royal Assent after
section 12 of, and Schedule 1 to, the Emu Bay
Railway (Operation and Acquisition) Act 2009
commence, section 196 commences on the day
on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
3. Objects of Act
Having regard to the importance of rail safety
and regulatory efficiency, the objects of this Act
are
(a) to provide for improvement of the safe
carrying out of railway operations; and
(b) to provide for the management of risks
associated with railway operations; and
(c) to make special provision for the control
of particular risks arising from railway
operations; and
(d) to promote public confidence in the
safety of transport of persons or freight
by rail.
4. Interpretation
In this Act
"accredited person" means a rail transport
operator who is accredited under this Act
but does not include a person whose
accreditation under this Act
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Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(a) has been surrendered or revoked
or has otherwise ceased to have
effect under this Act; or
(b) is suspended under this Act;
"Australian rail safety laws" means the rail
safety law or a corresponding rail safety
law;
"Australian Rail Safety Regulator" means
the Rail Safety Regulator or a
corresponding Rail Safety Regulator;
"commercial benefits order" means an order
under section 137;
"compliance code" means a compliance code
approved by the Minister under
Division 3 of Part 14;
"corresponding law" means
(a) the law of another jurisdiction
corresponding, or substantially
corresponding, to this Act; or
(b) a law of another jurisdiction that
is declared under the regulations
to be a corresponding law,
whether or not the law
corresponds, or substantially
corresponds, to this Act;
"corresponding rail safety law" means a rail
safety law as defined in a corresponding
law;
13
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
"corresponding Rail Safety Regulator"
means
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator within
the meaning of a corresponding
rail safety law (except in the case
of a jurisdiction for which a
person is prescribed under
paragraph (b)); or
(b) a person prescribed as the
corresponding Rail Safety
Regulator for another jurisdiction
for the purposes of this Act;
"drug" includes an illicit drug;
"eligible person", in relation to a reviewable
decision, has the meaning it has in
section 113(2);
"embargo notice" means a notice under
section 90;
"emergency services" means
(a) the State Emergency Service
continued under section 25 of the
Emergency Management Act
2006; or
(b) the Tasmanian Ambulance
Service established under the
Ambulance Service Act 1982; or
14
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Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(c) the Tasmanian Fire Service
established under the Fire Service
Act 1979; or
(d) the Police Service established
under the Police Service Act
2003; or
(e) a council; or
(f) another body constituted under an
Act or a Commonwealth Act, a
Government agency or a part of a
Government agency
(i) whose role usually
includes emergency
management; or
(ii) which is, or may be, in a
particular emergency,
required to participate in
emergency management;
or
(g) a prescribed body;
"employee" means a person employed under
a contract of employment or contract of
training;
"employer" means a person who employs one
or more other persons under contracts of
employment or contracts of training;
"exercise" includes perform;
15
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
"footpath" means an area open to the public
that is designated for, or has as one of its
main uses, use by pedestrians;
"function" includes power, authority or duty;
"guidelines" means guidelines approved by
the Minister under Division 3 of Part 14;
"illicit drug" has the same meaning as
"prescribed illicit drug" has in the Road
Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1970;
"improvement notice" means a notice under
section 97;
"infringement notice" means a notice under
Division 5 of Part 11;
"interface agreement" means an agreement,
about managing risks to safety identified
and assessed under Part 4, that includes
provisions for
(a) implementing and maintaining
measures to manage those risks;
and
(b) the evaluation, testing and, where
appropriate, revision, of those
measures; and
(c) the respective roles and
responsibilities of each party to
the agreement in relation to those
measures; and
16
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Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(d) procedures by which each party
to the agreement will monitor
compliance with the obligations
under the agreement; and
(e) a process for keeping the
agreement under review and the
revision of the agreement;
"investigator" means a person appointed to
be an investigator under section 69;
"investigation" means an investigation that
an investigator is appointed to conduct
under section 69;
"jurisdiction" means a State or Territory;
"level crossing" means
(a) an area where a road (not
including a road-related area) and
a railway meet at substantially the
same level, whether or not there
is a level crossing sign on the
road at all or any of the entrances
to the area; or
(b) an area where a road (not
including a road-related area) and
tram tracks meet at substantially
the same level, if there is a level
crossing sign on the road at all or
any of the entrances to the area;
17
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
"notifiable occurrence" means an accident,
or incident, associated with railway
operations
(a) that has, or could have, caused
(i) significant property
damage; or
(ii) serious injury; or
(iii) death; or
(b) that is, or is of a class that is,
prescribed to be a notifiable
occurrence or class of notifiable
occurrence
but does not include an accident or
incident, or class of accident or incident,
that is prescribed not to be a notifiable
occurrence;
"occupational health and safety legislation"
means the Workplace Health and Safety
Act 1995 and regulations under that Act;
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations
made under this Act;
"private siding" means a siding that is
managed, owned or controlled by a
person (other than a person who manages
the rail infrastructure with which the
siding connects or to which it has access)
but does not include
(a) a marshalling yard; or
18
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(b) a crossing loop; or
(c) a passenger terminal; or
(d) a freight terminal; or
(e) a siding, or a siding of a class,
prescribed not to be a private
siding;
"prohibition notice" means a notice under
section 102;
"public place" means
(a) a place that
(i) the public is entitled to
use; or
(ii) is open to members of the
public; or
(iii) is used by the public
whether or not on payment of
money; or
(b) a place that the occupier allows
members of the public to enter,
whether or not on payment of
money;
"public road" means
(a) a road that
(i) is open to members of the
public or used by
19
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
members of the public;
and
(ii) the Crown, a council, an
authority that is a single
authority, controlling
authority, or joint
authority, established
under Part 3 of the Local
Government Act 1993, a
statutory authority or a
State-owned company is
responsible for
maintaining; and
(b) a road that
(i) is a forest road within the
meaning of the Forestry
Act 1920; and
(ii) is open to members of the
public or used by
members of the public;
and
(iii) is constructed or
maintained by the
Forestry corporation
within the meaning of that
Act or by a person for the
purpose of timber
production; and
(c) a road that
20
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Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(i) is open to members of the
public or used by
members of the public;
and
(ii) is constructed or
maintained by the
Corporation within the
meaning of the Hydro-
Electric Corporation Act
1995; and
(d) a road that is prescribed;
"rail infrastructure" means the facilities that
are necessary to enable a railway to
operate safely and includes, but is not
limited to
(a) railway tracks and associated
track structures; and
(b) service roads, signalling systems,
communications systems, rolling
stock control systems and data
management systems; and
(c) notices and signs; and
(d) electrical power supply and
electric traction systems; and
(e) associated buildings, workshops,
depots and yards; and
(f) plant, machinery and equipment
but does not include
21
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
(g) rolling stock; or
(h) any facility, or facility of a class,
that is prescribed not to be rail
infrastructure;
"rail infrastructure manager", in relation to
rail infrastructure of a railway, means the
person who has effective management
and control of the rail infrastructure,
whether or not the person
(a) owns the rail infrastructure; or
(b) has a statutory or contractual
right to use the rail infrastructure
or to control, or provide, access
to it;
"rail or road crossing" means a railway
crossing, a bridge carrying a road over a
railway or a bridge carrying a railway
over a road;
"rail safety law" means this Act and the
regulations or a provision of this Act or
the regulations;
"rail safety officer" means a person
appointed by the Rail Safety Regulator as
a rail safety officer under Division 2 of
Part 13;
"Rail Safety Regulator" means the person
appointed under section 147 to be the
Rail Safety Regulator;
22
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
"rail safety work" see section 7;
"rail safety worker" means a natural person
who has carried out, is carrying out or is
about to carry out rail safety work;
"rail transport operator" means
(a) a rail infrastructure manager; or
(b) a rolling stock operator; or
(c) a person who is both a rail
infrastructure manager and a
rolling stock operator;
"railway" means a guided system, or
proposed guided system, designed for the
movement of rolling stock having the
capability of transporting passengers or
freight, or both, on a railway track with a
gauge of 600 millimetres or more,
together with its rail infrastructure and
rolling stock and includes
(a) a heavy railway; and
(b) a light railway; and
(c) a monorail; and
(d) an inclined railway; and
(e) a tramway; and
(f) a railway within a marshalling
yard or a passenger or freight
terminal; and
23
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
(g) a private siding; and
(h) a guided system, or guided
system of a class, prescribed to be
a railway;
Note: See section 5 for railways to which this
Act does not apply.
"railway crossing" means
(a) a level crossing; or
(b) any area where a footpath or
shared path crosses a railway or
tram tracks at substantially the
same level;
"railway operations" means
(a) the construction of a railway,
railway tracks and associated
track structures or rolling stock;
or
(b) the management, commissioning,
maintenance, repair,
modification, installation,
operation or decommissioning of
rail infrastructure; or
(c) the commissioning, maintenance,
repair, modification or
decommissioning of rolling
stock; or
24
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(d) the operation or movement, or
causing the operation or
movement by any means, of
rolling stock on a railway
(including for the purposes of
construction or restoration of rail
infrastructure); or
(e) the movement, or causing the
movement, of rolling stock for
the purposes of operating a
railway service;
"railway premises" means
(a) land (including any premises on
land) on or in which is situated
rail infrastructure; or
(b) land (including any premises on
land) on or in which is situated
any over-track or under-track
structure or part of an over-track
or under-track structure; or
(c) freight centres or depots used in
connection with the carrying out
of railway operations; or
(d) workshops or maintenance depots
used in connection with the
carrying out of railway
operations; or
(e) premises, including an office,
building and housing, used in
25
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
connection with the carrying out
of railway operations; or
(f) rolling stock or other vehicles
associated with railway
operations;
"railway tracks and associated track
structures" means
(a) railway tracks and associated
track structures and works, such
as cuttings, sidings, tunnels,
bridges, stations, platforms, tram
stops, excavations, land fill, track
support earthworks and drainage
works; or
(b) over-track structures and under-
track structures, including tunnels
under tracks;
"regulations" means regulations under this
Act;
"responsible road manager", in relation to a
public road, means the Crown or a
council, or another person for the time
being responsible for maintaining the
road;
"reviewable decision" has the meaning it has
in section 113;
"road" means an area that is open to or used
by the public and is developed for, or has
as one of its main uses, the driving or
26
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
riding of motor vehicles, and includes a
road-related area;
"road infrastructure" includes
(a) a road and its surface or
pavement; and
(b) anything under or supporting a
road or its surface or pavement;
and
(c) safety barriers; and
(d) drains and culverts; and
(e) traffic lights and other traffic
control devices (other than traffic
control devices that are
automatically activated by trains);
and
(f) traffic signs (other than level
crossing signs located at or
immediately next to level
crossings); and
(g) road markings; and
(h) road lighting; and
(i) pedestrian crossings and
associated infrastructure; and
(j) prescribed things;
"road manager" in relation to
27
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
(a) a public road, means the
responsible road manager; or
(b) a road other than a public road,
means the owner of, or person
responsible for, the road;
"road-related area" means
(a) an area that divides a road; or
(b) a footpath or nature strip, whether
or not adjacent to a road; or
(c) an area that is not a road and that
is open to the public and
designated for use by cyclists or
animals; or
(d) an area that is not a road and that
is open to or used by the public
for driving, riding or parking
vehicles; or
(e) a shoulder of a road; or
(f) an area, or a class of area, that is
prescribed to be a road-related
area
but does not include an area, or a class of
area, that is prescribed not to be a road-
related area;
"road vehicle" means
28
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Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(a) a motor vehicle within the
meaning of the Vehicle and
Traffic Act 1999; or
(b) a trailer within the meaning of the
Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999;
"rolling stock" means a vehicle that operates
on or uses a railway and includes
(a) a locomotive, carriage, rail car or
rail motor; and
(b) a light rail vehicle, a train or a
tram; and
(c) a light inspection vehicle, self-
propelled infrastructure
maintenance vehicle, trolley,
wagon or monorail vehicle
but does not include, when not operating
on a railway, a vehicle designed to
operate both on and off a railway;
"rolling stock operator" means a person who
has effective management and control of
the operation or movement of rolling
stock on rail infrastructure for a
particular railway, but does not include a
person by reason only that the person
drives the rolling stock or controls the
network or the network signals;
"running line" means a railway used
primarily for the through movement of
trains;
29
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
"safety" means the safety of people, including
rail safety workers, passengers, other
users of railways, users of rail or road
crossings and the general public;
"safety management plan" means a
document describing a safety
management system;
"safety management system" see
section 41;
"search warrant" means a search warrant
issued under section 82 or 83;
"security management plan" see
section 55;
"separated footpath" means a length of
footpath beginning at a separated
footpath sign (being a sign, or road
marking, that indicates that one side of
the footpath is for pedestrian use and the
other side is for the use of bicycles) and
ending at the nearest of the following:
(a) a sign, or road marking, that
indicates the end of the separated
footpath;
(b) a sign, or road marking, that
indicates a bicycle path;
(c) a sign, or road marking, that
indicates no bicycles are allowed;
30
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(d) a road (except a road-related
area);
(e) the end of the footpath;
"service road" means the part of a road that
(a) is separated from other parts of
the road by a dividing strip that is
not designed or developed,
wholly or mainly, to separate
vehicles travelling in opposite
directions; and
(b) is
(i) designed or developed to
be used, wholly or
mainly, by traffic
servicing adjacent land; or
(ii) indicated to be a service
road by information on or
with a traffic control
device on the road;
"shared path"
(a) means an area open to the public
(except a separated footpath) that
is designated for, or has as one of
its main uses, use by both the
riders of bicycles and pedestrians;
and
(b) includes a length of path for use
by both bicycles and pedestrians,
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s. 4 Part 1 Preliminary
beginning at a sign, or road
marking, that indicates the path is
to be shared by bicycles and
pedestrians and ending at the
nearest of the following:
(i) a sign, or road marking,
that indicates the end of
the shared path;
(ii) a sign, or road marking,
that indicates a bicycle
path;
(iii) a sign, or road marking,
that indicates no bicycles
are allowed;
(iv) a road (except a road-
related area);
(v) the end of the path;
"siding" means a portion of railway track,
connected by points to a running line or
another siding, on which rolling stock
can be placed clear of the running line;
"State-owned company" means a company
incorporated under the Corporations Act
that is controlled
(a) by the Crown, a Minister of the
Crown, a Government Business
Enterprise or a statutory
authority; or
32
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Part 1 Preliminary s. 4
(b) by another company that is so
controlled;
"statutory authority" means a body or
authority, whether incorporated or not,
that is established or constituted by or
under an Act or under the royal
prerogative, being a body or authority
which, or of which the governing
authority, wholly or partly comprises a
person or persons appointed by the
Governor, a Minister or another statutory
authority;
"substance" means substance in any form
(whether gaseous, liquid, solid or other)
and includes material, preparation,
extract and admixture;
"supervisory intervention order" means an
order under section 138;
"supply", in relation to
(a) goods, includes supply or
resupply by way of sale,
exchange, lease, hire or hire
purchase, whether as principal or
agent; and
(b) services, includes provide, grant
or confer, whether as principal or
agent;
"this jurisdiction" means Tasmania;
"train" means
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s. 5 Part 1 Preliminary
(a) 2 or more units of rolling stock
coupled together, at least one of
which is a locomotive or other
self-propelled unit; or
(b) a unit of rolling stock that is a
locomotive or other self-
propelled unit;
"tram tracks" includes a rail designed for a
light rail vehicle to run on;
"volunteer" means a person who is acting on
a voluntary basis (irrespective of whether
the person receives out-of-pocket
expenses).
5. Railways to which this Act does not apply
(1) This Act does not apply to
(a) a railway with a track gauge less than
600 millimetres; and
(b) a railway used as a haulage way for
operational and maintenance purposes in
connection with the electricity supply
industry within the meaning of the
Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995; and
(c) a railway in a mine that is underground,
or chiefly underground, and that is used
in connection with the performance of
mining operations; and
(d) a slipway; and
34
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Part 1 Preliminary s. 6
(e) a railway used only to guide a crane; and
(f) an aerial cable-operated system; and
(g) a railway that
(i) is operated solely within an
amusement or theme park; and
(ii) is required to be registered as an
amusement structure under
occupational health and safety
legislation; and
(iii) does not operate on or across a
public area or a road-related area
in respect of a public road; and
(h) a railway, or class of railway, that is
prescribed under subsection (2).
(2) The Minister may, by notice, prescribe a railway,
or class of railway, to be a railway to which this
Act does not apply.
6. What "ensuring safety" means
(1) To avoid doubt, a duty imposed on a person,
other than the Rail Safety Regulator, under the
rail safety law to ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, safety, requires the person
(a) to eliminate risks to safety so far as is
reasonably practicable; and
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s. 7 Part 1 Preliminary
(b) if it is not reasonably practicable to
eliminate risks to safety, to reduce those
risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
(2) To avoid doubt, for the purposes of this Act and
the regulations, regard must be had to the
following matters in determining what is (or was
at a particular time) reasonably practicable in
relation to ensuring safety:
(a) the likelihood of the risk concerned
eventuating;
(b) the degree of harm that would result if
the risk eventuated;
(c) what the person concerned knows, or
ought reasonably to know, about the risk
and any ways of eliminating or reducing
the risk;
(d) the availability and suitability of ways to
eliminate or reduce risks;
(e) the cost of eliminating or reducing the
risk.
7. What "rail safety work" means
(1) Subject to subsection (2), any of the following
classes of work is rail safety work for the
purposes of this Act:
(a) driving or despatching rolling stock or
any other activity which is capable of
36
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Part 1 Preliminary s. 7
controlling or affecting the movement of
rolling stock;
(b) signalling (and signalling operations),
receiving or relaying communications or
any other activity which is capable of
controlling or affecting the movement of
rolling stock;
(c) coupling or uncoupling rolling stock;
(d) maintaining, repairing, modifying,
monitoring, inspecting or testing
(i) rolling stock, including checking
that the rolling stock is working
properly before being used; or
(ii) rail infrastructure;
(e) installing of components in relation to
rolling stock;
(f) work on or about rail infrastructure
relating to the design, construction,
repair, modification, maintenance,
monitoring, upgrading, inspection or
testing of the rail infrastructure or
associated works or equipment, including
checking that the rail infrastructure is
working properly before being used;
(g) installing or maintaining
(i) a telecommunication system
relating to rail infrastructure or
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s. 7 Part 1 Preliminary
used in connection with rail
infrastructure; or
(ii) the means of supplying electricity
directly to rail infrastructure or to
any rolling stock using rail
infrastructure or to a
telecommunications system;
(h) work involving certification as to the
safety of rail infrastructure or rolling
stock or any part or component of rail
infrastructure or rolling stock;
(i) work involving the decommissioning of
rail infrastructure or rolling stock or any
part or component of rail infrastructure
or rolling stock;
(j) work involving the development,
management or monitoring of safe
working systems for railways;
(k) work involving the management or
monitoring of passenger safety on, in or
at any railway;
(l) any other work that is prescribed to be
rail safety work.
(2) Work, or any class of work, prescribed not to be
rail safety work is not rail safety work for the
purposes of this Act.
38
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8. Act binds Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of Tasmania
and, so far as the legislative power of Parliament
permits, in all its other capacities.
9. Examples
(1) An example (however expressed) in this Act is
part of this Act.
(2) If this Act includes an example (however
expressed) of the operation of a provision of this
Act
(a) the example is not exhaustive; and
(b) the example does not limit, but may
extend, the meaning of the provision.
10. Notes
A note in this Act is explanatory and is not part
of this Act.
39
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s. 11 Part 2 Rail Safety Duties
PART 2 RAIL SAFETY DUTIES
11. Safety duties of rail transport operators
(1) A rail transport operator must ensure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, the safety of the
operator's railway operations.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a rail transport
operator contravenes that subsection if the
operator fails to do any of the following:
(a) develop and implement, so far as is
reasonably practicable, safe systems for
the carrying out of the operator's railway
operations;
(b) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that each rail safety worker
who is to perform rail safety work in
relation to the operator's railway
operations
(i) is of sufficient good health and
fitness to carry out that work
safely; and
40
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(ii) is competent to undertake that
work;
(c) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that rail safety workers do
not carry out rail safety work in relation
to the operator's railway operations, and
are not on duty, while
(i) any alcohol is present in their
blood or breath; or
(ii) a prescribed illicit drug is present
in their oral fluid or blood; or
(iii) under the influence of any
substance (other than a prescribed
illicit drug) to the extent that they
are incapable of effectively
discharging a function or duty of
a rail safety worker;
(d) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that rail safety workers who
perform rail safety work in relation to the
operator's railway operations comply
with the operator's fatigue management
program in force under section 59;
(e) provide, so far as is reasonably
practicable, adequate facilities for the
safety of persons at any railway premises
under the control or management of the
operator;
(f) provide, so far as is reasonably
practicable
41
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s. 11 Part 2 Rail Safety Duties
(i) the information and instruction
to, and training and supervision
of, rail safety workers that is
necessary to enable those workers
to perform rail safety work in
relation to the operator's railway
operations in a way that is safe;
and
(ii) the information to rail transport
operators and other persons on
railway premises under the
control or management of the
operator that is necessary to
enable those persons to ensure
their safety.
(3) Without limiting subsection (1), a rail
infrastructure manager contravenes that
subsection if the manager fails to do any of the
following:
(a) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that any design, construction,
commissioning, use, installation,
modification, maintenance, repair, or
decommissioning, of rail infrastructure is
done or carried out in a way that ensures,
so far as is reasonably practicable, the
safety of railway operations;
(b) establish, so far as is reasonably
practicable, systems and procedures for
the scheduling, control and monitoring of
railway operations that ensure, so far as
42
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is reasonably practicable, the safety of
the manager's railway operations.
(4) Without limiting subsection (1), a rolling stock
operator contravenes that subsection if the
rolling stock operator fails to do any of the
following:
(a) provide or maintain rolling stock that, so
far as is reasonably practicable, is safe;
(b) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that any design, construction,
commissioning, use, modification,
maintenance, repair, cleaning, or
decommissioning, of rolling stock is
done or carried out in a way that, so far
as is reasonably practicable, ensures
safety;
(c) comply, so far as is reasonably
practicable, with rules and procedures for
the scheduling, control and monitoring of
rolling stock that have been established
by a rail infrastructure manager in
relation to the use of the manager's rail
infrastructure by the rolling stock
operator;
(d) so far as is reasonably practicable,
establish and maintain equipment,
procedures and systems to minimise risks
to the safety of the operator's railway
operations;
(e) make arrangements for ensuring, so far
as is reasonably practicable, safety in
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s. 12 Part 2 Rail Safety Duties
connection with the use, operation and
maintenance of the operator's rolling
stock.
12. Duties of rail transport operators extend to
contractors
(1) The duties of a rail transport operator under
section 11 extend to
(a) a person who, not being an employee
employed to carry out railway
operations, undertakes railway operations
on or in relation to rail infrastructure or
rolling stock of the operator; and
(b) any employees of the person
in relation to matters over which the operator has
control or would have control if not for
any agreement purporting to limit or remove that
control.
(2) A person to whom the duties under section 11
extend by reason of subsection (1) must comply
with those duties in respect of railway
operations, referred to in that subsection, that are
undertaken by the person.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
44
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Part 2 Rail Safety Duties s. 13
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
13. Duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers &c.
(1) A person who
(a) designs, commissions, manufacturers,
supplies, installs or erects any thing; and
(b) knows, or ought reasonably to know, that
the thing is to be used as or in connection
with rail infrastructure or rolling stock
must
(c) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that the thing is safe if it is
used for a purpose for which it was
designed, commissioned, manufactured,
supplied, installed or erected; and
(d) carry out, or arrange the carrying out of,
the testing and examination of the thing
that may be necessary for compliance
with this section; and
(e) take the action that is necessary to
ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that there will be available in
connection with the use of the thing
adequate information about
(i) the use for which the thing was
designed, commissioned,
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s. 13 Part 2 Rail Safety Duties
manufactured, supplied, installed
or erected; and
(ii) the results of any testing or
examination referred to in
paragraph (d); and
(iii) any conditions necessary to
ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, the thing is safe if it
is used for a purpose for which it
was designed, commissioned,
manufactured, supplied, installed
or erected.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
(2) A person who decommissions any rail
infrastructure or rolling stock must
(a) ensure, so far as is reasonably
practicable, that the decommissioning is
carried out safely; and
(b) carry out, or arrange the carrying out of,
the testing and examination that may be
necessary for compliance with this
section.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), if the person
who supplies the thing
(a) carries on the business of financing the
acquisition of the thing by customers;
and
(b) has, in the course of that business,
acquired an interest in the thing solely
for the purpose of financing its
acquisition by a customer from a third
person or its provision to a customer by a
third person; and
(c) has not taken possession of the thing or
has taken possession of it solely for the
purpose of passing possession to that
customer
the reference in subsection (1) to the person who
supplies that thing is instead taken to be a
reference to the third person.
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s. 14 Part 3 Accreditation
PART 3 ACCREDITATION
Division 1 Application for accreditation
14. Purpose of accreditation
The purpose of accreditation of a rail transport
operator in relation to railway operations is to
attest that the rail transport operator has
demonstrated to the Rail Safety Regulator the
competence and capacity to manage risks to
safety associated with those railway operations.
15. Accreditation required for railway operations
(1) A person must not carry out, or cause or permit
to be carried out, any railway operations unless
the person
(a) is a rail transport operator who
(i) is accredited under this Part in
relation to those operations; or
(ii) is exempt under this Act from
compliance with this section in
relation to those operations; or
(b) is carrying out those operations, or
causing or permitting those operations to
be carried out, for or on behalf of
(i) a rail transport operator who is
accredited under this Part in
relation to those operations; or
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Part 3 Accreditation s. 15
(ii) a rail transport operator who is
exempt under this Act from
compliance with this section in
relation to those operations; or
(c) is exempt under this Act from
compliance with this section in relation
to those operations.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
Note: If a body corporate and related bodies corporate are involved,
an exemption may be given so that only one of the bodies need be
accredited (related body corporate meaning related by virtue of
section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a rail safety
worker who
(a) is not a rail transport operator; and
(b) is carrying out rail safety work for or on
behalf of a rail transport operator who
is
(i) accredited under this Part in
relation to that rail safety work;
or
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s. 16 Part 3 Accreditation
(ii) exempt under this Act from
compliance with this section in
relation to that rail safety work.
16. Accreditation not required for private sidings, but
private sidings may be registered
(1) A rail infrastructure manager of a private
siding
(a) is not required to be accredited under this
Part in respect of railway operations
carried out in the private siding; and
(b) except to the extent that the regulations
or a condition referred to in
subsection (2) otherwise provide, is not
required to comply with Part 4 or
section 65, 66 or 67 in relation to the
private siding.
(2) However, if the rail infrastructure manager
wishes the private siding to be (or to continue to
be) connected with, or to have access to, a
railway or siding of an accredited person, the rail
infrastructure manager must
(a) register the private siding with the Rail
Safety Regulator and pay the annual
registration fee for a siding determined
under section 25; and
(b) comply with conditions that are
(i) imposed by the Rail Safety
Regulator from time to time; or
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Part 3 Accreditation s. 16
(ii) prescribed
in relation to the safe construction,
maintenance and operation of the private
siding; and
(c) comply with the provisions of section 47
in relation to the management of the
interface with the railway of the
accredited person; and
(d) notify the accredited person in writing of
any railway operations affecting or
relating to the safety of the railway or
siding of the accredited person.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) The Rail Safety Regulator must issue a notice of
registration to a rail infrastructure manager who
registers a private siding with the Rail Safety
Regulator.
(4) If the regulations so prescribe, the Rail Safety
Regulator must make prescribed particulars of a
registration under subsection (2) available for
public inspection at the Rail Safety Regulator's
office, or a prescribed place, during ordinary
business hours.
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s. 17 Part 3 Accreditation
(5) Conditions and regulations referred to in
subsection (2) may establish requirements that
are the same as, or similar to, any provisions of
Part 4 or section 65, 66 or 67.
17. Purpose for which accreditation may be granted
(1) An accreditation may be granted to a rail
transport operator for any one or more of the
following purposes:
(a) for the carrying out of railway operations
for the part or parts of a railway
designated in the notice of accreditation
or having the scope or characteristics
designated in that notice;
(b) for any service or aspect, or part of a
service or aspect, of railway operations
designated in the notice of accreditation;
(c) for specified railway operations to permit
any one or more of the following:
(i) site preparation;
(ii) construction of rail infrastructure;
(iii) restoration or repair work;
(iv) testing of railway track or other
infrastructure;
(v) other activities, relating to
railway operations, considered
appropriate by the Rail Safety
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Part 3 Accreditation s. 18
Regulator and designated in the
notice of accreditation.
(2) If the applicant requests, accreditation may be
granted for a specified period only.
18. Application for accreditation
(1) A rail transport operator may apply to the Rail
Safety Regulator for accreditation in respect of
specified railway operations carried out, or
proposed to be carried out, by, or on behalf of,
that operator.
(2) An application must be made in the manner and
form approved by the Rail Safety Regulator and
must
(a) specify the scope and nature of the
railway operations in respect of which
accreditation is sought; and
(b) include a safety management plan
relating to those railway operations; and
(c) specify whether or not the applicant is
accredited, or has applied for
accreditation, under a corresponding law;
and
(d) contain the prescribed information; and
(e) be accompanied by the application fee
determined under section 25.
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s. 19 Part 3 Accreditation
(3) The Rail Safety Regulator may require a rail
transport operator who has applied for
accreditation
(a) to supply further information requested
by the Rail Safety Regulator; and
(b) to verify by statutory declaration any
information supplied to the Rail Safety
Regulator.
19. What applicant for accreditation must demonstrate
The Rail Safety Regulator must not grant
accreditation to an applicant unless satisfied,
having regard to any guidelines applicable to this
section, that the applicant has demonstrated
that
(a) the applicant is, or is to be, a rail
infrastructure manager or rolling stock
operator in relation to the railway
operations for which accreditation is
sought; and
(b) the applicant has the competence and
capacity to manage risks to safety
associated with the railway operations for
which accreditation is sought; and
(c) the applicant
(i) has the competence and capacity
to implement the proposed safety
management system; and
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Part 3 Accreditation s. 20
(ii) has the financial capacity, or has
public risk insurance
arrangements, to meet reasonable
potential accident liabilities
arising from the railway
operations; and
(d) the applicant has consulted the persons
that the person is required under
section 41(2) to consult in relation to the
applicant's safety management system;
and
(e) the applicant has complied with the
requirements (if any) prescribed for the
purposes of this section.
20. Rail Safety Regulator may direct applicants to
coordinate and cooperate in applications
(1) If the Rail Safety Regulator
(a) receives applications from 2 or more rail
transport operators for accreditation; and
(b) believes that co-ordinated preparation of
the applications is necessary to ensure
that the railway operations of the
applicants are carried out safely
the Rail Safety Regulator may give a direction in
writing to the rail transport operators to co-
ordinate their applications.
(2) A direction under subsection (1) may require
each rail transport operator given a direction to
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s. 20 Part 3 Accreditation
provide, to each other rail transport operator
given the direction, information concerning any
circumstances in relation to the carrying out of
railway operations by the first-mentioned rail
transport operator that could constitute a risk to
safety in relation to the carrying out of rail
operations by another rail transport operator to
whom the direction is given.
(3) A rail transport operator who is given a direction
under subsection (1) must comply with the
direction.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(4) A rail transport operator who has co-ordinated
the preparation of an application in accordance
with this section must include in the application
reference to
(a) information given by the rail transport
operator to each other rail transport
operator; and
(b) information given to the rail transport
operator by each other rail transport
operator
in accordance with a direction under
subsection (1).
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
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21. Coordination between Rail Safety Regulators
(1) This section applies if the Rail Safety Regulator
receives an application
(a) for accreditation; or
(b) for variation of accreditation or the
conditions or restrictions of
accreditation
that indicates that the applicant is accredited, or
is seeking accreditation, under a corresponding
law of one or more other jurisdictions.
(2) The Rail Safety Regulator must, as soon as
possible and before deciding whether or not to
grant the application, consult with the relevant
corresponding Rail Safety Regulator, or
Regulators, in relation to the application.
(3) The consultation under subsection (2) is to be
undertaken with a view to the outcome of the
application being consistent with the outcome of
applications made in the other jurisdiction or
jurisdictions.
(4) The Rail Safety Regulator, in complying with
subsection (2), must take into account any
guidelines applicable to this section.
(5) If the Rail Safety Regulator does not, in relation
to an application, act consistently with the
guidelines, the Rail Safety Regulator must give
to the applicant notice in writing setting out
(a) the reasons for not so acting; and
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s. 22 Part 3 Accreditation
(b) information about the right of review
under Part 10.
22. Determination of application
(1) Subject to this section, the Rail Safety Regulator
must give to an applicant for accreditation,
within the relevant period
(a) if the Rail Safety Regulator is satisfied as
to the matters referred to in section 19
(and, if applicable, section 20), notice in
writing granting accreditation to the
applicant with or without any conditions
or restrictions; or
(b) if the Rail Safety Regulator is not so
satisfied, notice in writing refusing the
application.
(2) A notice under subsection (1) granting an
application must specify
(a) the prescribed details of the applicant;
and
(b) the scope and nature of the railway
operations in respect of which the
accreditation is granted; and
(c) any condition or restriction imposed by
the Rail Safety Regulator on the grant of
accreditation; and
(d) any other prescribed information.
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(3) A notice
(a) under subsection (1) refusing an
application, or imposing a condition or
restriction, must include
(i) the reasons for the decision to
refuse to grant the application or
impose the condition or
restriction; and
(ii) information about the right of
review under Part 10; or
(b) under subsection (4)(c) extending a
period, must include information about
the right of review under Part 10.
(4) In this section, "relevant period", in relation to
an application, means
(a) 6 months after the application was
received by the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) if the Rail Safety Regulator requested
further information, 6 months (or another
period agreed between the Rail Safety
Regulator and the applicant) after the
Rail Safety Regulator receives the last
information so requested; or
(c) if the Rail Safety Regulator, by notice in
writing given to the applicant before the
expiry of the relevant 6 months, specifies
another period, that period
whichever period is the longest.
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s. 23 Part 3 Accreditation
Note: Reviews may only be made of conditions imposed
under this section, not section 23.
23. Prescribed conditions and restrictions
Accreditation granted to a person under this Part
is subject to any conditions or restrictions that
are prescribed for the purposes of this section
and are applicable to the grant of accreditation.
24. Offence of breach of condition or restriction
An accredited person must not fail to comply
with a condition or restriction of the person's
accreditation.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
Division 2 Fees
25. Minister to determine fees
(1) The Minister, by notice in the Gazette, may
determine
(a) the fee for an application under
section 18; and
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(b) the annual registration fee for a private
siding under section 16; and
(c) the annual accreditation fee for the
purposes of section 26; and
(d) the relevant application fee for the
purposes of section 33; and
(e) fees for the late payment of fees
determined under this section.
(2) The Minister may, in a notice under
subsection (1), fix
(a) different fees, or annual fees, for
different kinds of applications or
accreditations; and
(b) various methods for the calculation of
various fees; and
(c) differential application fees, or
differential annual registration fees or
annual accreditation fees, on a basis
determined by the Minister.
(3) A fee for late payment of fees may be, but is not
required to be, calculated on a daily basis.
(4) A fee charged under this Act that is determined
in accordance with a notice under subsection (1)
includes the amount of any GST that is payable
in relation to the fee.
(5) For the avoidance of doubt, a notice under
subsection (1) is a statutory rule for the purposes
of the Rules Publication Act 1953.
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26. Payment of annual accreditation and registration
fees
(1) Subject to this Part, it is a condition of
accreditation that an accredited person must pay,
within the period specified under subsection (2),
the annual accreditation fee determined under
section 25.
(2) An accredited person must pay the annual
accreditation fee
(a) for the year in which the person is
accredited, at the time the person is
accredited; and
(b) in respect of each subsequent year, on or
before a date in that year, determined by
the Rail Safety Regulator, of which the
person is notified in writing by the Rail
Safety Regulator.
(3) A rail infrastructure manager of a private siding
that is registered under section 16 must pay the
annual registration fee
(a) for the year in which the siding is
registered, at the time the siding is
registered; and
(b) in respect of each subsequent year, on or
before a date in that year, determined by
the Rail Safety Regulator, of which the
manager is notified in writing by the Rail
Safety Regulator.
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(4) The Rail Safety Regulator may accept payment
of an annual accreditation fee or registration fee
due and payable by a person in accordance with
an agreement made with the person, whether for
payment by instalments or otherwise.
27. Late payment fees
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may, by notice in
writing to a person, impose a fee, specified in, or
determined in accordance with, a notice under
section 25, for failing to pay, by the due date for
payment of the fee, an annual accreditation fee
or annual registration fee.
(2) It is a condition of accreditation that an
accredited person must pay a late fee imposed on
the person by a notice under subsection (1) by
the date specified in the notice.
(3) It is a condition of the registration of a siding
that the rail infrastructure manager in relation to
the siding must pay a late fee imposed on the
manager by a notice under subsection (1) by the
date specified in the notice.
28. Waiver of fees
The Rail Safety Regulator may waive, or refund,
the whole or part of any fee payable or paid
under this Part.
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Division 3 Variation and ending of accreditation
29. Surrender of accreditation
An accredited person may, in accordance with
the regulations, surrender the person's
accreditation.
30. Revocation or suspension of accreditation
(1) This section applies in respect of an accredited
person if
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator considers that
the accredited person
(i) is no longer able to demonstrate
to the satisfaction of the Rail
Safety Regulator the matters
referred to in section 19 or to
satisfy the conditions, or to
comply with the restrictions, to
which the accreditation is subject;
or
(ii) is not managing the rail
infrastructure, or is not operating
rolling stock in relation to any
rail infrastructure, to which the
accreditation relates and has not
done so for at least the preceding
12 months; or
(b) the accredited person contravenes the rail
safety law.
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(2) The Rail Safety Regulator, by notice to an
accredited person
(a) may suspend the accreditation, or part of
the accreditation, of the accredited
person for a period determined by the
Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) may revoke the accreditation of the
accredited person wholly or in part, or in
respect of particular railway operations
specified in the notice, with immediate
effect or with effect from a specified
future date; or
(c) may impose conditions or restrictions on
the accreditation; or
(d) may vary conditions or restrictions to
which the accreditation is subject.
(3) If the Rail Safety Regulator revokes the
accreditation of an accredited person, the Rail
Safety Regulator may, in the notice revoking the
accreditation, declare that the accredited person
is disqualified from applying for accreditation,
or for accreditation in relation to specified
railway operations, during a period specified in
the notice.
(4) Before making a decision under subsection (2)
or (3), the Rail Safety Regulator
(a) must notify the person in writing
(i) that the Rail Safety Regulator is
considering making a decision
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under that subsection of the kind,
and for the reasons, specified in
the notice; and
(ii) that the person may, within 28
days or a longer period specified
in the notice, make written
representations to the Rail Safety
Regulator showing cause why the
decision should not be made; and
(b) must consider any representations made
under paragraph (a)(ii) and not
withdrawn.
(5) If the Rail Safety Regulator suspends or revokes
the accreditation of the accredited person wholly
or in part, or in respect of specified railway
operations, the Rail Safety Regulator must
include in the notice of suspension or
revocation
(a) the reasons for the suspension or
revocation; and
(b) information about the right of review
under Part 10.
(6) If the Rail Safety Regulator suspends or revokes
the accreditation of a person who is accredited in
another jurisdiction, the Rail Safety Regulator
must give notice of the suspension or revocation
to the relevant corresponding Rail Safety
Regulator.
(7) The Rail Safety Regulator may withdraw a
suspension of the accreditation of a person under
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subsection (2) by written notice given to the
person.
31. Immediate suspension of accreditation
(1) If the Rail Safety Regulator considers that there
is, or would be, an immediate and serious risk to
safety unless an accreditation is suspended
immediately, the Rail Safety Regulator may,
without complying with section 30(4), by written
notice given to the accredited person,
immediately suspend the accreditation of the
person
(a) wholly or in part, or in respect of
particular railway operations specified in
the notice; and
(b) for a period, of not more than 6 weeks,
specified in the notice.
(2) The Rail Safety Regulator may, by notice in
writing given to a person whose accreditation is
suspended wholly or in part or in respect of
specified railway operations
(a) reduce the period of suspension specified
in a notice under subsection (1); or
(b) extend the period of suspension specified
in a notice under subsection (1) but not
so that the suspension continues for more
than 6 weeks after the date of the notice
under that subsection.
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(3) Before making a decision under
subsection (2)(b) to extend a period of
suspension, the Rail Safety Regulator
(a) must notify the person in writing
(i) that the Rail Safety Regulator is
considering extending the period
of suspension for the reasons
specified in the notice; and
(ii) that the person may, within 7
days or a longer period specified
in the notice, make written
representations to the Rail Safety
Regulator showing cause why the
suspension should not be
extended; and
(b) must consider any representations made
under paragraph (a)(ii) and not
withdrawn.
(4) If the Rail Safety Regulator
(a) issues a notice under subsection (1)
suspending accreditation; or
(b) issues a notice under subsection (2)(b)
extending the suspension of a person
the Rail Safety Regulator must include in the
notice the reasons for the notice being issued and
information about the right of review under
Part 10.
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(5) The Rail Safety Regulator may withdraw a
suspension of the accreditation of a person under
subsection (2)(b) by written notice given to the
person.
32. Keeping and making available documents for public
inspection
(1) A rail transport operator must ensure that the
following are available for inspection at a place
and time determined in accordance with
subsection (2):
(a) if the operator is an accredited person or
has an exemption under this Part, the
current notice of accreditation or
exemption under this Part;
(b) if the operator is a rail infrastructure
manager of a private siding registered
with the Rail Safety Regulator, the notice
of registration;
(c) any other document prescribed for the
purposes of this section.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 4 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the notice or
document is to be available for inspection
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(a) if the operator is a body corporate, at the
operator's registered office during
ordinary business hours; or
(b) if the operator is not a body corporate
(i) at the operator's principal place
of business during ordinary
business hours; or
(ii) if the Rail Safety Regulator
approves another place and time,
at that place and time.
33. Application for variation of accreditation
(1) An accredited person may apply to the Rail
Safety Regulator, in the manner and form
approved by the Rail Safety Regulator, for a
variation of the accreditation.
(2) An application for variation
(a) must specify the details of the variation
being sought; and
(b) must contain the prescribed information;
and
(c) must be accompanied by the relevant
application fee.
(3) The Rail Safety Regulator may require an
accredited person who has applied for a
variation
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(a) to supply further information requested
by the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) to verify by statutory declaration any
information supplied to the Rail Safety
Regulator.
34. Where application relates to cooperative railway
operations or operations in another jurisdiction
Sections 20 and 21 apply to an application for
variation as if a reference in those sections to
accreditation were a reference to variation of
accreditation.
35. Determination of application for variation
(1) Subject to this section, the Rail Safety Regulator
must, within the relevant period, give to an
applicant for variation of an accreditation
(a) if the Rail Safety Regulator is satisfied as
to the matters referred to in sections 19
and 20 so far as they are applicable to the
proposed variation, notice in writing
varying the accreditation, with or without
any conditions or restrictions; or
(b) if the Rail Safety Regulator is not so
satisfied, notice in writing refusing the
application.
(2) A notice under subsection (1) varying an
accreditation must
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(a) specify the prescribed details of the
applicant; and
(b) specify the variation to the accreditation
so far as it applies to the scope and nature
of the railway operations or the manner
in which they are to be carried out; and
(c) specify any conditions and restrictions
imposed by the Rail Safety Regulator on
the accreditation as varied; and
(d) specify any other prescribed information.
(3) A notice
(a) under subsection (1) refusing an
application, or imposing a condition or
restriction, must include
(i) the reasons for the decision to
refuse to grant the application for
variation or imposing the
condition or restriction; and
(ii) information about the right of
review under Part 10; and
(b) under subsection (4)(c) extending a
period, must include information about
the right of review under Part 10.
(4) In this section, "relevant period", in relation to
an application, means
(a) 6 months after the application was
received by the Rail Safety Regulator; or
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(b) if the Rail Safety Regulator requested
further information, 6 months (or another
period agreed between the Rail Safety
Regulator and the applicant) after the
Rail Safety Regulator receives the last
information so requested; or
(c) if the Rail Safety Regulator, by notice in
writing given to the applicant before the
expiry of the relevant 6 months, specifies
another period, that period
whichever period is the longest.
36. Prescribed conditions and restrictions
The accreditation of a person that is varied under
this Part is subject to any prescribed conditions,
or prescribed restrictions, that apply to the
accreditation as varied.
37. Variation of conditions and restrictions
(1) An accredited person may apply to the Rail
Safety Regulator for a variation of any condition
or restriction to which the accreditation is
subject that was imposed by the Rail Safety
Regulator.
(2) An application for variation of a condition or
restriction must be made as if it were an
application for variation of accreditation, and
section 33 applies accordingly.
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(3) The Rail Safety Regulator
(a) must consider the application; and
(b) if satisfied as to the matters referred to in
sections 19 and 20 so far as they are
applicable to the proposed variation,
may
(i) by notice in writing given to the
accredited person; and
(ii) in accordance with the provisions
of this Part so far as they are
applicable
grant, or refuse to grant, the variation.
(4) A notice under subsection (3) refusing to grant a
variation of a condition or restriction must
include the reasons for the decision and
information about the right of review under
Part 10.
38. Rail Safety Regulator may make changes to
conditions or restrictions
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may, subject to this
section, at any time, and at the discretion of the
Rail Safety Regulator
(a) vary or revoke a condition or restriction
imposed by the Rail Safety Regulator to
which the accreditation of an accredited
person is subject; or
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(b) impose a new condition or restriction.
(2) Before taking action under this section, the Rail
Safety Regulator must
(a) give the accredited person written notice
of the action that the Rail Safety
Regulator proposes to take; and
(b) allow the accredited person to make
written representations about the
intended action within 14 days or any
other period that the Rail Safety
Regulator and the accredited person
agree upon; and
(c) consider any representations made under
paragraph (b) and not withdrawn.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the Rail Safety
Regulator considers it necessary to take
immediate action in the interests of safety.
(4) The Rail Safety Regulator must
(a) give in writing to the accredited person
(i) details of any action taken under
subsection (1); and
(ii) a statement of reasons for any
action taken under subsection (1);
and
(b) notify in writing the accredited person
that the person has a right of review of
the decision under Part 10.
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39. Accreditation cannot be transferred or assigned
(1) An accreditation
(a) is personal to the person who holds it;
and
(b) is not capable of being transferred or
assigned to any other person or otherwise
dealt with by the person who holds it;
and
(c) does not vest by operation of law in any
other person.
(2) A purported transfer or assignment of an
accreditation or any other purported dealing with
an accreditation by the person who holds it is of
no effect.
(3) This section has effect despite anything in any
Act or rule of law to the contrary.
40. Sale or transfer of railway operations by accredited
person
(1) If an accredited person proposes to sell or
otherwise transfer any railway operations for
which the person is accredited, the Rail Safety
Regulator may, on an application for
accreditation under this Part being made by the
proposed transferee, waive compliance by the
proposed transferee with any requirement of this
Division.
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(2) The Rail Safety Regulator is not to waive
compliance with any requirement of this
Division unless the proposed transferee
demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Rail
Safety Regulator, that the proposed transferee
has the competence and capacity to comply with
the relevant requirements of this Division that
apply to applications for accreditation of the
appropriate kind.
(3) A waiver of compliance with requirements may
be given subject to the conditions and
restrictions (if any) that appear to the Rail Safety
Regulator to be necessary.
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PART 4 SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Division 1 Safety management systems
41. Safety management system
(1) A rail transport operator must have a safety
management system for railway operations
(other than railway operations in respect of
which the operator is not required to be
accredited), carried out on or in relation to the
rail transport operator's rail infrastructure or
rolling stock, that
(a) is in a form approved by the Rail Safety
Regulator; and
(b) complies with the relevant prescribed
requirements and the prescribed risk
management principles, methods and
procedures; and
(c) identifies and assesses any risks to safety
that have arisen or may arise from the
carrying out of railway operations on or
in relation to the rail transport operator's
rail infrastructure or rolling stock; and
(d) specifies the controls (including audits,
expertise, resources and staff) that are to
be used by the rail transport operator to
manage risks to safety and to monitor
safety in relation to those railway
operations; and
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(e) includes procedures for monitoring,
reviewing and revising the adequacy of
those controls; and
(f) includes
(i) measures to manage risks to
safety identified under section 47,
48 or 49; and
(ii) a security management plan in
accordance with section 55; and
(iii) an emergency management plan
in accordance with section 56;
and
(iv) a health and fitness management
program in accordance with
section 57; and
(v) an alcohol and drug management
program in accordance with
section 58; and
(vi) a fatigue management program in
accordance with section 59.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
(2) A rail transport operator must, before
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(a) establishing a safety management system
in relation to railway operations in
respect of which the operator is required
to be accredited; or
(b) reviewing or varying such a safety
management system
consult, so far as is reasonably practicable, with
the following:
(c) persons likely to be affected by the safety
management system or its review or
variation, being persons who carry out
those railway operations or work on or at
the rail transport operator's railway
premises or with the rail transport
operator's rolling stock;
(d) health and safety representatives within
the meaning of the occupational health
and safety legislation representing any of
the persons referred to in paragraph (c);
(e) any union representing any of the
persons referred to in paragraph (c);
(f) any other rail transport operator with
whom the first-mentioned operator has
an interface agreement under section 47
relating to risks to safety of railway
operations carried out by or on behalf of
either of them;
(g) the public, as appropriate.
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(3) If the safety management system of a rail
transport operator and the safety management
system of another rail transport operator who has
an agreement referred to in subsection (2)(f)
with the first-mentioned rail transport operator,
when taken as one system, comply with this Act,
both safety management systems are taken to
comply with this Act.
(4) A safety management system must be evidenced
in writing.
(5) A safety management system
(a) must identify each person responsible for
preparing any part of the safety
management system; and
(b) must identify the person, or class of
persons, responsible for implementing
the system.
(6) A rail transport operator must provide to the Rail
Safety Regulator a copy of any document that
constitutes
(a) a variation of a safety management
system; or
(b) a safety management system as varied by
the rail transport operator
as soon as practicable after being requested to do
so by the Rail Safety Regulator.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
42. Rail transport operator to implement and comply
with safety management system
(1) A rail transport operator must implement the rail
transport operator's safety management system.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
(2) A rail transport operator must not, without
reasonable excuse, fail to comply with the rail
transport operator's safety management system
for the rail transport operator's railway
operations.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
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(3) It is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of
subsection (2) if the rail transport operator
(a) complies with the safety management
system to the extent practicable while
complying with a condition or restriction
of accreditation; or
(b) demonstrates that compliance with the
system in particular circumstances would
have increased the likelihood of a
notifiable occurrence happening.
(4) Subsection (3) does not limit the excuses that
may be reasonable excuses.
43. Contractors to comply with safety management
system
A person (not being an employee employed to
carry out railway operations) who undertakes
railway operations on or in relation to rail
infrastructure or rolling stock of a rail transport
operator must comply with the safety
management system of the rail transport
operator, to the extent that it applies to those
railway operations.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
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44. Review of safety management system
A rail transport operator must review the rail
transport operator's safety management system
in accordance with the regulations
(a) at the times, or within the periods, that
are prescribed; or
(b) if no times or periods are prescribed, at
least once each year or at another time
agreed between the rail transport operator
and the Rail Safety Regulator.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
45. Rail Safety Regulator may direct amendment of a
safety management system
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may direct a rail
transport operator, by notice in writing, to amend
the operator's safety management system within
a period, specified in the notice, that is not less
than 28 days after the giving of the direction.
(2) A direction under subsection (1) must
(a) state the reasons why the Rail Safety
Regulator considers it is necessary for
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the rail transport operator to amend the
safety management system; and
(b) include information about the right of
review under Part 10.
(3) The rail transport operator must not, without
reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a
direction under subsection (1).
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 1 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units.
46. Safety performance reports
(1) A rail transport operator must give the Rail
Safety Regulator a safety performance report in
respect of each reporting period that
(a) is in a form approved by the Rail Safety
Regulator; and
(b) complies with the requirements (if any)
prescribed for the purposes of this
section; and
(c) contains
(i) a description and assessment of
the safety performance of the rail
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transport operator's railway
operations; and
(ii) comments on any deficiencies in,
and any irregularities in, the
railway operations that may be
relevant to the safety of the
railway; and
(iii) a description of any safety
initiatives in relation to the
railway operations undertaken
during the reporting period or
proposed to be undertaken in the
next reporting period; and
(iv) any other information or
performance indicators
prescribed for the purpose of this
section.
(2) A rail transport operator must submit a report in
accordance with this section within 6 months
after the end of each reporting period.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) In this section
"reporting period" means
(a) a calendar year; or
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(b) another period agreed from time
to time by the Rail Safety
Regulator and the rail transport
operator.
Division 2 Interface coordination
47. Interface co-ordination rail transport operators
(1) A rail transport operator
(a) must identify and assess, so far as is
reasonably practicable, risks to safety
that may arise from railway operations
carried out by or on behalf of the
operator because of, or partly because of,
railway operations carried out by or on
behalf of any other rail transport
operator; and
(b) must determine measures to manage, so
far as is reasonably practicable, those
risks; and
(c) must, for the purposes of managing those
risks, seek to enter into an interface
agreement with the other rail transport
operator or rail transport operators.
(2) Except to the extent that the regulations
otherwise provide, subsection (1)(c) does not
apply if none of the rail transport operators is a
rail infrastructure manager.
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48. Interface co-ordination rail infrastructure
manager public roads
A rail infrastructure manager
(a) must identify and assess, so far as is
reasonably practicable, risks to safety
that
(i) may arise from railway
operations carried out on or in
relation to the manager's rail
infrastructure; and
(ii) may so arise because of, or partly
because of, the existence or use
of any rail or road crossing that is
part of the road infrastructure of
any public road; and
(b) must determine measures to manage, so
far as is reasonably practicable, those
risks; and
(c) must, for the purpose of managing those
risks, seek to enter into an interface
agreement with the responsible road
manager in relation to that road.
49. Interface co-ordination rail infrastructure
manager roads other than public roads
A rail infrastructure manager
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(a) must identify and assess, so far as is
reasonably practicable, risks to safety
that
(i) may arise from railway
operations carried out on or in
relation to the manager's rail
infrastructure; and
(ii) may so arise because of, or partly
because of, the existence or use
of any rail or road crossing that is
part of the road infrastructure of
any road, other than a public
road; and
(b) must consider whether it is necessary to
manage those risks in conjunction with
the road manager in relation to that road;
and
(c) if the rail infrastructure manager is of the
opinion that
(i) it is necessary that those risks be
managed in conjunction with the
road manager, must give written
notice of that opinion to the road
manager and determine measures
to manage, so far as is reasonably
practicable, those risks; or
(ii) the management of those risks
does not need to be carried out in
conjunction with the road
manager, must keep a written
record of that opinion; and
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(d) unless paragraph (c)(ii) applies, must, for
the purpose of managing those risks,
seek to enter into an interface agreement
with the road manager in relation to that
road.
50. Interface co-ordination road manager public
roads and other roads
(1) The responsible road manager in relation to a
public road
(a) must identify and assess, so far as is
reasonably practicable, risks to safety
that may arise from the existence or use
of any rail or road crossing that is part of
the road infrastructure of that public road
because of, or partly because of, railway
operations carried out on or in relation to
rail infrastructure; and
(b) must determine measures to manage, so
far as is reasonably practicable, those
risks; and
(c) must, for the purpose of managing those
risks, seek to enter into an interface
agreement with the rail infrastructure
manager of the rail infrastructure.
(2) If, under section 49(c)(i), a rail infrastructure
manager gives a written notice to a road
manager, in relation to a road that is not a public
road, of an opinion that certain risks need to be
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managed in conjunction with the road manager,
the road manager
(a) must identify and assess, so far as is
reasonably practicable, risks to safety
that may arise from the existence or use
of any rail or road crossing that is part of
the road infrastructure of the road
because of, or partly because of, railway
operations; and
(b) must determine measures to manage, so
far as is reasonably practicable, those
risks; and
(c) must, for the purpose of managing those
risks, seek to enter into an interface
agreement with the rail infrastructure
manager.
(3) Nothing in this section authorises or requires a
road manager to act inconsistently with, or
without regard to, the functions, obligations or
powers conferred on the road manager by or
under an Act other than this Act.
(4) Nothing in this Division affects the operation of
the Civil Liability Act 2002 in respect of a public
or other authority responsible for carrying out
road work.
51. Identification and assessment of risks
A rail transport operator, rail infrastructure
manager or road manager who or that is required
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under section 47, 48, 49 or 50 to identify and
assess risks to safety that may arise from
operations carried out by another person may do
so
(a) by identifying and assessing those risks;
or
(b) by identifying and assessing those risks
jointly with the other person; or
(c) by adopting the identification and
assessment of those risks carried out by
the other person.
52. Interface agreements
An interface agreement under this Division
(a) may be entered into by 2 or more rail
transport operators or by one or more rail
transport operators and one or more road
managers; and
(b) may include measures to manage any
number of risks to safety that may arise
because of, or partly because of, any
railway operations; and
(c) may include measures to manage any
number of risks to safety that may arise
from any railway operations because of,
or partly because of, the existence or use
of any road infrastructure; and
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(d) may make provision for or in relation to
any matter by applying, adopting or
incorporating any matter contained in
any document; and
(e) may consist of 2 or more documents.
53. Rail Safety Regulator may give directions
(1) This section applies if the Rail Safety Regulator
is satisfied that a rail transport operator, rail
infrastructure manager or road manager referred
to in section 47, 48, 49 or 50
(a) is unreasonably refusing or failing to
enter into an interface agreement with
another person as required under this
Division; or
(b) is unreasonably delaying the negotiation
of such an agreement.
(2) The Rail Safety Regulator may issue a written
notice to the rail transport operator, the rail
infrastructure manager or the road manager, as
the case requires, and the other person with
whom an interface agreement is required to be
entered into, that
(a) warns of the Rail Safety Regulator's
powers under this section, including the
power to issue a direction under
subsection (3) at any time after a
specified date; and
(b) includes a copy of this section; and
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(c) may contain suggested terms for
inclusion in an interface agreement.
(3) If the Rail Safety Regulator issues a notice under
subsection (2) to a rail transport operator, rail
infrastructure manager or road manager, the Rail
Safety Regulator may, in writing, request the
operator or manager to provide the information
that the Rail Safety Regulator reasonably
requires for the purposes of making a direction
under subsection (4).
(4) If a notice is issued under subsection (2) and an
interface agreement has not been entered into by
or on the date specified in the notice, the Rail
Safety Regulator
(a) may determine the arrangements that are
to apply in relation to the management of
risks to safety referred to in section 47,
48, 49 or 50, as the case requires; and
(b) may direct either or both persons to
whom the notice is issued to give effect
to those arrangements; and
(c) must specify by when a direction must be
complied with.
(5) A direction under subsection (4)
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) must set out any arrangements
determined by the Rail Safety Regulator
under that subsection.
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(6) A person to whom a direction under
subsection (4) is given must comply with the
direction.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
54. Register of interface agreements
(1) A rail transport operator must maintain a register
of
(a) interface agreements to which the
operator is a party; and
(b) arrangements determined by the Rail
Safety Regulator under section 53
that are applicable to the operator's railway
operations.
(2) A road manager must maintain a register of
(a) interface agreements to which the
manager is a party; and
(b) arrangements determined by the Rail
Safety Regulator under section 53
that are applicable to any road in relation to
which the manager is the road manager.
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Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
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Part 5 Plans, Programs and Duties of Rail Safety Workers s. 55
PART 5 PLANS, PROGRAMS AND DUTIES OF RAIL
SAFETY WORKERS
Division 1 Plans and programs
55. Security management plan
A rail transport operator
(a) must have a security management plan,
for railway operations carried out by or
on behalf of the operator on or in relation
to the operator's rail infrastructure or
rolling stock, that
(i) incorporates measures to protect
people and property from theft,
assault, sabotage, terrorism and
other criminal acts of other
parties and from other harm; and
(ii) complies with this Act and the
regulations; and
(b) must ensure that the security
management plan is implemented; and
(c) must ensure that the appropriate response
measures of the security management
plan are implemented without delay if an
incident of a kind referred to in
paragraph (a)(i) occurs.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
56. Emergency management plan
(1) A rail transport operator must have an
emergency management plan, which complies
with subsection (2), for railway operations
carried out by or on behalf of the operator on or
in relation to the operator's railway operations.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
(2) The emergency management plan must
(a) address and include the matters that are
prescribed; and
(b) be prepared
(i) in conjunction with emergency
services and any other person
who is prescribed; and
(ii) in accordance with the prescribed
requirements; and
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(c) be kept and maintained as prescribed;
and
(d) be provided to the emergency services
and any other person who is prescribed;
and
(e) be tested as prescribed.
(3) A rail transport operator must ensure that the
appropriate response measures of the emergency
management plan are implemented if an
emergency occurs.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
57. Health and fitness management program
A rail transport operator must have and
implement, for rail safety workers who carry out
rail safety work on or in relation to the rail
transport operator's rail infrastructure or rolling
stock, a health and fitness program that complies
with the prescribed requirements relating to
health and fitness programs.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
58. Alcohol and drug management program
A rail transport operator must prepare and
implement, for rail safety workers who carry out
railway operations in relation to the rail transport
operator's rail infrastructure or rolling stock, an
alcohol and drug management program that
complies with this Act and the regulations.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
59. Fatigue management program
A rail transport operator must prepare and
implement a program, in accordance with the
prescribed requirements, for the management of
fatigue of rail safety workers who carry out
railway operations in relation to the rail transport
operator's rail infrastructure or rolling stock.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
Division 2 Rail safety workers
60. Competence of rail safety workers to be assessed
(1) A rail transport operator must ensure that each
rail safety worker who is to carry out rail safety
work in relation to the rail transport operator's
rail infrastructure or rolling stock has the
competence to carry out that work.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the
competence of a rail safety worker to carry out
particular rail safety work
(a) must, unless the rail safety operator is
exempt under this Act from compliance
with this paragraph in relation to that rail
safety work, be assessed by reference
to
(i) any qualification and any units of
competency recognised under the
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Australian Quality Training
Framework within the meaning
of the Skilling Australia's
Workforce Act 2005 of the
Commonwealth applicable to that
rail safety work; or
(ii) if subparagraph (i) does not
apply, the applicable prescribed
provisions; and
(b) must be assessed by reference to the
knowledge and skills of the rail safety
worker that would enable the worker to
carry out the rail safety work safely.
(3) A certificate purporting to have been issued
under the Australian Quality Training
Framework to a rail safety worker certifying that
the worker has certain qualifications or units of
competence is evidence that the worker has
those qualifications or units of competence.
(4) Nothing in this section prevents a rail transport
operator from requiring a rail safety worker to
undertake further training before carrying out
rail safety work.
(5) A rail transport operator must maintain, in
accordance with the prescribed requirements,
records of the competency of rail safety workers
who carry out rail safety work on or in relation
to the rail transport operator's rail infrastructure
or rolling stock.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
61. Rail safety workers to have identification
(1) A rail transport operator must ensure that each
rail safety worker who is to carry out rail safety
work in relation to the rail transport operator's
railway operations has a form of identification
that is sufficient to enable the type of
competency and training of the rail safety
worker for that rail safety work to be checked by
a rail safety officer.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
(2) A rail safety worker who is carrying out rail
safety work must, when requested by a rail
safety officer to do so, show to the rail safety
officer the identification provided in accordance
with subsection (1).
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
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62. Duties of rail safety workers
(1) A rail safety worker, when carrying out rail
safety work must
(a) take reasonable care for his or her own
safety; and
(b) take reasonable care for the safety of
persons who may be affected by the rail
safety worker's acts or omissions; and
(c) co-operate with the rail transport operator
in respect of any action taken by the rail
transport operator to comply with a
requirement imposed by or under the rail
safety law.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
(2) A rail safety worker, when carrying out rail
safety work, must not intentionally or recklessly
interfere with or misuse anything provided to the
worker by the rail transport operator
(a) in the interests of safety; or
(b) under the rail safety law.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
(3) A rail safety worker, when carrying out rail
safety work, must not wilfully or recklessly
place at risk the safety of another person on or in
the immediate vicinity of rail infrastructure.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
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(4) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) or (b), in
determining whether a rail safety worker failed
to take reasonable care, regard must be had to
what the rail safety worker knew about the
relevant circumstances.
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PART 6 DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AND TESTING
63. Use of alcohol and drugs by rail safety workers
A rail safety worker must not be on duty or carry
out, or attempt to carry out, rail safety work
(a) while any alcohol is present in his or her
blood or breath; or
(b) while a prescribed illicit drug is present
in his or her oral fluid or blood; or
(c) while under the influence of any
substance (other than a prescribed illicit
drug) to the extent that he or she is
incapable of effectively discharging a
function or duty of a rail safety worker.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
64. Testing for drugs and alcohol
(1) For the purposes of this section
"applicable provisions" means
(a) Part I of the Road Safety (Alcohol
and Drugs) Act 1970; and
(b) Part II, Division 2 (including
section 14) of that Act; and
(c) Part III of that Act
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as in force from time to time.
(2) Without limiting the application of the Road
Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1970 to a rail
safety worker otherwise than by virtue of this
section, the applicable provisions of the Road
Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1970, with the
appropriate modifications, apply to, and in
relation to, a rail safety worker on duty or
carrying out, or attempting to carry out, rail
safety work.
(3) The appropriate modifications of the applicable
provisions of the Road Safety (Alcohol and
Drugs) Act 1970 are as follows:
(a) in section 2(1) of those provisions, in the
definition of "prescribed concentration",
the words "0.05 of a gram" are to be
taken to be the words "0.00 of a gram";
(b) a reference in the applicable provisions,
in relation to a person, to the relevant
time in relation to a test, an examination
or requirement or direction to submit to
the taking of a sample is to be taken,
despite section 2(3A) of those provisions,
to be a reference to the time the person
was required or directed to undertake the
test, medical examination or to submit to
the taking of the sample;
(c) a reference in the applicable provisions
to
(i) a driver; or
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(ii) the driving of a vehicle or a
motor vehicle; or
(iii) a person driving, who drove, or
who has driven, a motor vehicle
on a public street
is to be taken to be a reference to a rail
safety worker on duty or carrying out, or
attempting to carry out, rail safety work;
(d) a reference in the applicable provisions,
(apart from section 10) to a police officer
or an approved operator is to be taken to
include a reference to a rail safety
officer;
(e) a matter, thing or person that or who is
prescribed or approved for the purposes
of that Act is to be taken to be prescribed
or approved, respectively, for the
purposes of the applicable provisions as
they apply by virtue of this section;
(f) sections 7D, 8 and 8A of the applicable
provisions do not, by reason only of this
section, apply to a rail safety worker on
duty or carrying out, or attempting to
carry out, rail safety work;
(g) in section 9(1) of the applicable
provisions, the words "a person drove a
motor vehicle in a public street while he
was in such a condition as to be
incapable of driving that vehicle without
risk of danger to other persons" are to be
taken to be the words "a rail safety
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worker on duty or carrying out, or
attempting to carry out, rail safety work
is incapable of undertaking a function or
duty of a rail safety worker";
(h) section 10(8) of the applicable provisions
does not, by reason only of this section,
apply to a rail safety worker attending his
or her work as a rail safety worker;
(i) in section 10A(1) of the applicable
provisions, the words "driver of a
vehicle" are to be taken to be omitted;
(j) section 10A(1A) of the applicable
provisions does not, by reason only of
this section, apply to a rail safety worker
attending his or her work as a rail safety
worker;
(k) section 22(2) of the applicable provisions
is to be taken to include a reference to all
offences under this Act.
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PART 7 INFORMATION, INVESTIGATION BY RAIL
TRANSPORT OPERATORS AND AUDIT
65. Rail transport operators to provide information
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may, by notice in
writing given to a rail transport operator, require
the operator to provide to the Rail Safety
Regulator on or before a specified date and in a
manner and form approved by the Rail Safety
Regulator, any or all of the following:
(a) information concerning measures taken
by the rail transport operator to promote
rail safety;
(b) information concerning matters,
including matters relating to the financial
capacity or insurance arrangements of the
rail transport operator, relating to rail
safety or the accreditation of the rail
transport operator that the Rail Safety
Regulator reasonably requires;
(c) the information prescribed for the
purposes of this subsection.
(2) The rail transport operator must comply with a
notice given to the operator under subsection (1).
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
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(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
(3) A rail transport operator must provide to the Rail
Safety Regulator
(a) in a manner and form approved by the
Rail Safety Regulator; and
(b) at the prescribed times and in respect of
the prescribed periods
information prescribed for the purposes of this
subsection relating to rail safety or accreditation.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 40 penalty units.
66. Notification of certain occurrences
(1) A rail transport operator must report to the Rail
Safety Regulator or another authority specified
by the Rail Safety Regulator
(a) within the prescribed time; and
(b) in the prescribed manner
all notifiable occurrences that happen on, or in
relation to, the rail transport operator's railway
premises or railway operations.
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Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 80 penalty units.
(2) Two or more rail transport operators may make a
joint report in respect of a notifiable occurrence
affecting them.
(3) In addition to the matters specified in
subsection (1), the Rail Safety Regulator may,
by notice in writing, require a rail transport
operator to report to
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) another authority specified by the Rail
Safety Regulator
any other occurrence or type of occurrence
which endangers, or could endanger, the safe
operation of any railway operations.
(4) The Rail Safety Regulator may require
information in a report under this section to be
verified by statutory declaration.
(5) A rail transport operator to whom a requirement
under subsection (3) applies must comply with
the requirement.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units; or
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(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 80 penalty units.
67. Rail transport operators may be required to
investigate notifiable occurrences
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may, by written notice
to a rail transport operator, require the rail
transport operator to investigate
(a) notifiable occurrences; or
(b) any other occurrences that have
endangered, or that may endanger, the
safe operation of the railway operations
carried out by the rail transport operator.
(2) The level of investigation is to be determined by
the severity and potential consequences of the
occurrences and of other similar occurrences.
(3) The focus of the investigation should be to
determine the cause and contributing factors,
rather than to apportion blame.
(4) The rail transport operator must ensure that the
investigation is conducted
(a) in a manner approved by the Rail Safety
Regulator; and
(b) within the period specified by the Rail
Safety Regulator.
Penalty: In the case of
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(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 80 penalty units.
(5) A rail transport operator who has carried out an
investigation under this section must report to
the Rail Safety Regulator on the investigation
within the period specified by the Rail Safety
Regulator.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 80 penalty units.
68. Audit by Rail Safety Regulator of railway
operations
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator
(a) may audit the railway operations of a rail
transport operator; and
(b) may prepare and implement a program
(in this section referred to as "an audit
program") for each year for inspecting
the railway operations of rail transport
operators; and
(c) may, for the purposes of an audit, inspect
the railway operations of a rail transport
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operator whether or not the inspection
takes place under an audit program.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1)(b), an audit
program may focus on one or more of the
following:
(a) particular rail transport operators;
(b) particular criteria relating to rail transport
operators;
(c) particular aspects of rail safety;
(d) particular aspects of railway operations.
(3) The Rail Safety Regulator must give not less
than 24 hours' notice in writing to a rail
transport operator before inspecting the
operator's railway operations under this section.
(4) The regulations may establish procedures for the
conduct of audits under this section, including
procedures to ensure the confidentiality of
records.
(5) In this section
"rail transport operator" includes a person,
not being an employee employed to carry
out railway operations, who undertakes
railway operations on or in relation to rail
infrastructure or rolling stock of a rail
transport operator.
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PART 8 INVESTIGATIONS
69. Appointment of investigator
(1) The Secretary of the Department
(a) may, on his or her own initiative or at the
request of a person; and
(b) must, at the request of the Minister
appoint one or more independent investigators to
investigate and report on an accident, or other
incident, that is on, associated with or involves a
railway.
(2) A person may only be appointed an investigator
under subsection (1) if the Secretary of the
Department is satisfied that the person is suitably
qualified, by virtue of the person's qualifications
or experience, to conduct an independent
investigation.
(3) Before appointing an investigator under
subsection (1), the Secretary of the Department
is to consult with the Minister, and any person
who is an accredited person in respect of the
railway to which the proposed investigation
relates, about
(a) which person or persons are to be
appointed as an investigator; and
(b) the matter or matters to be inquired into
by the investigator; and
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(c) reporting arrangements once the
investigation is completed.
(4) An investigator may be appointed under
subsection (1) in relation to an accident or
incident, and an investigator may continue to
carry out an investigation in relation to an
accident or incident, even though
(a) a court or Tribunal is conducting
proceedings in relation to the accident or
incident; or
(b) another person or body is investigating
the accident or incident
unless a court, or Tribunal, that has jurisdiction
to do so, orders the investigator to cease to
conduct the investigation.
(5) An investigator is to be appointed on the terms
and conditions agreed between the Secretary of
the Department and the investigator.
70. Conduct of investigation
(1) In conducting an investigation, an investigator
(a) is to attempt to determine the
circumstances surrounding any accident
or incident so as to prevent the future
occurrence of accidents and incidents;
and
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(b) is not to apportion blame for the
occurrence of accidents and incidents;
and
(c) is not to determine the liability of any
person in respect of any accident or
incident.
(2) An investigator is to conduct an investigation as
quickly, and with as little formality and
technicality, as is consistent with a fair and
proper consideration of the issues.
(3) An investigator is not, in conducting an
investigation, bound by the rules of evidence,
but may inform himself or herself on a matter as
the investigator thinks fit.
71. Powers of investigator
(1) Except as provided by this section, an
investigator may conduct an investigation in the
manner determined by the investigator.
(2) An investigator may, for the purposes of an
investigation, by summons signed by the
investigator
(a) require a person to attend before the
investigator; or
(b) require a person to produce to the
investigator any document, object,
material or information.
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(3) An investigator may, for the purposes of an
investigation, require a person summoned to
attend before the investigator
(a) to answer relevant questions or to
provide information; and
(b) to make an oath or affirmation to answer
questions put by the investigator.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), Part 9 applies to, and
in relation to, an investigator conducting an
investigation, as if
(a) a reference in that Part to a rail safety
officer were a reference to an
investigator; and
(b) in section 74, for the words
"investigative purposes" there were
substituted the words "an investigation
being conducted by the investigator"; and
(c) in section 82(2) and (3) and
section 85(a)(ii), for the words "evidence
of the commission of an offence against
the rail safety law" there were substituted
the words "evidence that may be relevant
to an investigation being conducted by an
investigator"; and
(d) in section 85(b), for the words "in the
commission of an offence against the rail
safety law" there were substituted the
words "evidence that may be relevant to
an investigation being conducted by an
investigator"; and
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(e) in section 91(1)(a), for the words
"evidence in proceedings, that have been
or may be commenced, for an offence
against the rail safety law", there were
substituted the words "evidence for the
purposes of an investigation"; and
(f) in section 92(1), for the words "to
prevent the commission of an offence
against the rail safety law" there were
substituted the words "as evidence for
the purposes of an investigation".
(5) Divisions 7 and 8 of Part 9 do not apply to, or in
relation to, an investigator conducting an
investigation under this Part.
(6) If a document, object or material is produced to
an investigator under this section (other than
under Part 9 as applied by this section), the
investigator may do all or any of the following:
(a) inspect it;
(b) make copies of, photograph, take extracts
from or test it;
(c) take possession of it and keep it while it
is necessary for the investigation.
(7) An investigator may appoint a person or persons
to assist him or her in an investigation.
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72. Report of findings of investigator
(1) An investigator, after completing an
investigation, must prepare a report in relation to
the investigation (in this section referred to as
the "investigator's report").
(2) An investigator's report may contain
(a) any recommendations that the
investigator thinks fit; and
(b) other relevant matters that the
investigator thinks fit.
(3) Before finalising an investigator's report, the
investigator is to circulate a confidential draft of
the proposed report to those persons that the
investigator considers ought to be given the
opportunity to comment on the report before it is
finalised.
(4) The investigator must provide a copy of the
investigator's report to the Secretary of the
Department and the Minister.
(5) The Secretary of the Department is to ensure that
a copy of the final report is published within 28
days after it is provided to him or her under
subsection (4).
(6) A report is taken to be published under
subsection (5) if it is
(a) placed on a website of the Department
for a period of at least 60 days; and
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(b) made available for viewing or purchase,
at a reasonable cost, at a place specified
in a notice on the website.
73. Rights and obligations of persons in relation to
investigations
(1) A person who has been served with a summons
under section 71(2) must not fail without
reasonable excuse
(a) to attend before the investigator in
accordance with the summons; or
(b) to produce a document, object or
material, or provide information, in
accordance with the summons.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 1 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units.
(2) A person must not refuse, without reasonable
excuse, to answer a relevant question when
required to do so under this Part.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 1 000 penalty units;
or
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(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units.
(3) A person must not refuse to be sworn or to
affirm when required to do so under this Part.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 200 penalty units.
(4) A person must not, without reasonable excuse,
hinder or obstruct an investigator in the exercise
of powers under this Part or fail to obey any
other requirement imposed by an investigator
under this Part.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 1 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units.
(5) A person is not excused from answering a
question, producing any document, object or
material, or providing information, under this
Part, on the ground that to do so might tend to
incriminate the person or make the person liable
to a penalty.
(6) Any answer or information given, or any
document, object or material produced, in
accordance with a requirement under this Part is
not admissible in evidence against the person in
proceedings for an offence or for the imposition
of a penalty (other than proceedings in respect of
the making of a false or misleading statement)
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(a) if the person claims, before giving the
answer or information, or producing the
document, object or material, that the
answer, information, document, object or
material might tend to incriminate the
person or make the person liable to a
penalty; or
(b) if the person was not, before giving the
answer or information, or producing the
document, object or material, informed
that he or she was entitled to make a
claim of the kind referred to in
paragraph (a).
(7) A person is not obliged to provide information
that is privileged on the grounds of legal
professional privilege.
(8) Except as provided in subsection (6) or (7), any
information given, or document produced, by a
natural person as a direct result of the
compliance with the direction may be used in
evidence in any criminal or civil proceedings
against the person.
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PART 9 ENFORCEMENT
Division 1 Entry to places by rail safety officers
74. Power to enter places
(1) A rail safety officer may, for compliance and
investigative purposes or in an emergency, enter
a place if
(a) the place is a public place and the entry is
made when the place is open to the
public; or
(b) the occupier of the place consents to the
entry; or
(c) the entry to the place is authorised by a
search warrant; or
(d) the place is railway premises and the
entry is made
(i) when the place is open for
carrying on activities by reason of
which the place is railway
premises; or
(ii) when the place is otherwise open
for entry; or
(iii) if the place is not open as
mentioned in subparagraphs (i)
and (ii), but the entry is urgently
required to investigate the
circumstances of a notifiable
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occurrence, at any time during
which railway operations are
being carried out or are usually
carried out.
(2) A rail safety officer who enters railway premises
under subsection (1)(d) must not unnecessarily
impede any activities being conducted at the
premises.
(3) In this section
"compliance and investigative purposes"
includes purposes
(a) related to ascertaining whether
the rail safety law has been or is
being complied with, including
whether an offence has been
committed against the rail safety
law; and
(b) related to ascertaining whether
the terms of, or a condition or
restriction of, an accreditation has
been or is being complied with.
75. Limitation on entry powers places used for
residential purposes
Despite anything to the contrary in this Part, the
powers of a rail safety officer under this Part in
relation to entering a place are not exercisable in
respect of any place that is used only for
residential purposes, except
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(a) with the consent of the occupier of the
place; or
(b) under the authority conferred by a search
warrant.
76. Notice of entry
Before a rail safety officer enters railway
premises (not being a public place) under
section 74, the rail safety officer must give the
occupier of the railway premises reasonable
notice of the intention to enter, unless
(a) the giving of the notice would be
reasonably likely to defeat the purpose
for which it is intended to enter the
premises; or
(b) entry to the premises is made with the
consent of the occupier of the premises;
or
(c) entry is required in circumstances where
the rail safety officer reasonably believes
there is an immediate risk to safety
because of the carrying out of railway
operations at the premises; or
(d) entry is authorised by a search warrant.
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Division 2 General enforcement powers
77. General powers after entering a place
(1) A rail safety officer who enters a place under
this Part, may do any of the following:
(a) search and inspect any part of the place
and any rail infrastructure, rolling stock
or road vehicle or any other thing at the
place;
(b) enter or open, using reasonable force, rail
infrastructure, rolling stock, a road
vehicle or other thing at the place, to
examine the structure, rolling stock, road
vehicle or other thing;
(c) take measurements, make surveys and
take levels and, for those purposes, dig
trenches, break up the soil and set up any
posts, stakes or markers;
(d) test any part of rail infrastructure or
rolling stock for the purpose of
identifying quality or faults;
(e) inspect, film, photograph, videotape or
otherwise record an image of
(i) rail infrastructure or rolling stock,
or a road vehicle or other thing, at
the place; and
(ii) a document or record at the place
or in rolling stock or a road
vehicle at the place;
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(f) take, or authorise another person to take,
for analysis, a thing, or a sample of or
from the thing, at the place;
(g) seize any thing that the rail safety officer
suspects on reasonable grounds is
connected with an offence against the rail
safety law or to secure any such thing
against interference;
(h) require any person at the place to answer
questions or otherwise give information
in relation to a suspected offence against
the rail safety law;
(i) mark, tag or otherwise identify rolling
stock, a road vehicle or other thing at the
place;
(j) take a copy of the whole or any part of a
document at the place or in rolling stock
or a road vehicle at the place;
(k) take all necessary steps to allow a power
under paragraph (a) to paragraph (j)
(inclusive) to be exercised.
(2) A film, photograph, videotape or image taken
under subsection (1)(e) of rail infrastructure, any
part of rail infrastructure, rolling stock, a road
vehicle, or any other thing, is not inadmissible as
evidence by reason only of the fact that it
includes the likeness of one or more persons, if
the capturing of that likeness does not appear to
have been the main reason for the taking of the
film, photograph, videotape or image.
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78. Use of assistants and equipment
(1) A rail safety officer may exercise powers under
this Part with the aid of the assistants and
equipment that the officer considers reasonably
necessary in the circumstances.
(2) Powers that may be exercised by a rail safety
officer under this Part may be exercised by an
assistant authorised and supervised by the
officer, but only if the officer considers that it is
reasonably necessary in the circumstances that
the powers be exercised by an assistant.
79. Use of electronic equipment
(1) Without limiting section 77, if, in the exercise of
a power under this Part
(a) a thing is found in or on rolling stock or a
road vehicle, or at a place, and the thing
is, or includes, a disk, tape or other
device for the storage of information; and
(b) the equipment in or on the rolling stock
or road vehicle, or at the place, may be
used with the disk, tape or other device
the rail safety officer, or a person assisting the
officer, may operate the equipment, or seize and
operate the equipment, to access the information.
(2) A rail safety officer, or a person assisting an
officer, must not operate or seize equipment for
the purpose mentioned in this section unless the
officer or person assisting believes on reasonable
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grounds that the operation or seizure of the
equipment can be carried out without damage to
the equipment.
80. Use of equipment to examine or process things
(1) Without limiting section 78, a rail safety officer
exercising a power under this Part may bring to,
onto, or into
(a) rolling stock; or
(b) a road vehicle; or
(c) a place
any equipment reasonably necessary for the
examination or processing of things found at, on
or in the rolling stock, road vehicle or place in
order to determine whether they are things that
may be seized.
(2) The rail safety officer, or a person assisting the
officer, may operate equipment already
(a) in or on the rolling stock or road vehicle;
or
(b) at the place
to carry out the examination or processing of a
thing found in or on the rolling stock or road
vehicle, or at the place, in order to determine
whether it is a thing that may be seized, if the
officer or person assisting believes on reasonable
grounds that
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(c) the equipment is suitable for the
examination or the processing; and
(d) the examination or processing can be
carried out without damage to the
equipment.
81. Securing a site
(1) For the purpose of protecting evidence that
might be relevant for compliance or investigative
purposes under the rail safety law, a rail safety
officer may secure the perimeter of any site at a
place by whatever means the rail safety officer
considers appropriate.
(2) A person other than a rail safety officer must not,
without the permission of a rail safety officer,
enter, or remain at, a site the perimeter of which
is secured under this section.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the person
enters the site, or remains at the site
(a) to ensure the safety of persons; or
(b) to remove deceased persons or animals
from the site; or
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(c) to move a road vehicle, or the wreckage
of a road vehicle, to a safe place; or
(d) to protect the environment from
significant damage or pollution.
(4) If a rail safety officer unreasonably withholds a
permission referred to in subsection (2), the
permission is to be taken to have been given.
Division 3 Search warrants
82. Search warrants
(1) A rail safety officer may apply to a magistrate
for the issue of a search warrant in relation to
particular railway premises or residential
premises.
(2) An application may only be made under
subsection (1) if the rail safety officer believes
on reasonable grounds that there is, or may be
within the next 72 hours, in, or on, the railway
premises or residential premises, a thing or
things of a kind that may be evidence of the
commission of an offence against the rail safety
law.
(3) If a magistrate is satisfied that there are
reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is,
or may be within the next 72 hours, in, or on, the
railway premises or residential premises
evidence of the commission of an offence
against the rail safety law, the magistrate may
issue a search warrant.
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(4) A search warrant issued under this section or
section 83 authorises a rail safety officer named
in the warrant and any assistants the rail safety
officer considers necessary
(a) to enter the railway premises or
residential premises named or described
in the warrant; and
(b) to search for and seize any thing named
or described in the warrant.
(5) In addition to any other requirement, a search
warrant must state
(a) the offence suspected; and
(b) the railway premises or residential
premises to be searched; and
(c) a description of the thing for which the
search is to be made; and
(d) any conditions to which the warrant is
subject; and
(e) whether entry is authorised to be made at
any time or during stated hours; and
(f) a day, not later than 7 days after the issue
of the warrant, on which the warrant
ceases to have effect.
(6) A magistrate who issues a search warrant is to
cause a record to be made of all relevant
particulars of the grounds the magistrate has
relied on to justify the issue of the search
warrant.
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(7) A search warrant is not invalidated by any
defect, other than a defect that affects the
substance of the search warrant in a material
particular.
83. Warrants by telephone or other electronic means
(1) A rail safety officer may make an application to
a magistrate for a search warrant by telephone,
telex, facsimile or other electronic means
(a) in an urgent case; or
(b) if the delay that would occur if an
application were made in person would
frustrate the effective execution of the
warrant.
(2) The magistrate may require communication by
voice to the extent that is practicable in the
circumstances.
(3) An application under this section is to include all
information required to be provided in an
application for a search warrant under
section 82, but the application may, if necessary,
be made before the information is sworn.
(4) If an application is made to a magistrate under
this section and, after considering the
information and having received and considered
the further information (if any) that he or she
required, the magistrate is satisfied that
(a) a search warrant in the terms of the
application should be issued urgently; or
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(b) the delay that would occur if an
application were made in person would
frustrate the effective execution of the
search warrant
the magistrate may complete and sign the same
form of warrant that would be issued under
section 82.
(5) If the magistrate decides to issue the search
warrant, the magistrate is to inform the
applicant, by telephone, telex, facsimile or other
electronic means, of the terms of the warrant and
the day on which and the time at which it was
signed.
(6) The applicant is to then complete a form of
search warrant in terms substantially
corresponding to those given by the magistrate,
stating on the form the name of the magistrate
and the day on which and the time at which the
warrant was signed.
(7) The applicant, not later than the day after the day
of expiry of the search warrant or the day after
the day on which the search warrant was
executed, whichever is the earlier, is to give or
transmit to the magistrate the form of warrant
completed by the applicant and, if the
information referred to in subsection (3) was not
sworn, that information duly sworn.
(8) The magistrate is to attach to the documents
provided under subsection (7) the form of search
warrant completed by the magistrate.
(9) If
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(a) it is material, in any proceedings, for a
court to be satisfied that the exercise of a
power under a search warrant issued
under this section was duly authorised;
and
(b) the form of search warrant signed by the
issuing officer is not produced in
evidence
the court is to assume, unless the contrary is
proved, that the exercise of the power was not
duly authorised.
84. Notice to be given of entry under warrant
(1) Before executing a search warrant, the rail safety
officer named in the warrant or a person
assisting the officer must
(a) announce that he or she is authorised by
the warrant to enter the premises; and
(b) give any person at the premises an
opportunity to allow entry to the
premises.
(2) The rail safety officer or a person assisting the
officer need not comply with subsection (1) if he
or she believes on reasonable grounds that
immediate entry to the premises is required to
ensure that the effective execution of the search
warrant is not frustrated.
(3) If an occupier or another person who apparently
represents the occupier is present at premises
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when a search warrant is being executed, the rail
safety officer or person assisting the officer must
give the person a copy of the warrant.
85. Seizure of things not mentioned in warrant
A search warrant authorises the rail safety
officer executing the warrant, in addition to the
seizure of any thing of the kind described in the
warrant, to seize any thing which is not of the
kind described in the warrant, if
(a) the rail safety officer believes, on
reasonable grounds, that the thing
(i) is of a kind which could have
been included in a search
warrant; or
(ii) will afford evidence of the
commission of an offence against
the rail safety law; and
(b) in the case of seizure, the rail safety
officer believes, on reasonable grounds,
that it is necessary to seize that thing in
order to prevent its concealment, loss or
destruction or its use in the commission
of an offence against the rail safety law.
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Division 4 Powers to support seizure
86. Directions relating to seizure
(1) To enable a thing to be seized under this Part, a
rail safety officer may direct the person in
control of it
(a) to take it to a specified place within a
specified time; and
(b) if necessary, to remain in control of it at
the specified place for a period specified
in the direction.
(2) A direction under subsection (1)
(a) must be given by signed notice in writing
given to the person; or
(b) if for any reason it is not practicable to
give a signed notice in writing to the
person, may be given orally and
confirmed by signed notice in writing
given to the person as soon as is
practicable.
(3) A further direction may be made under
subsection (1) about the thing if it is necessary
and reasonable to make the further direction.
Example A further direction may be that the thing be transported during
stated off-peak hours, be transported along a particular route,
or be transported in a particular way.
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(4) A person given a direction under subsection (1)
must comply with that direction unless the
person has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
(5) Without limiting what may otherwise be a
reasonable excuse under subsection (4), it is a
reasonable excuse for a person in control of a
thing not to comply with a direction under
subsection (1) if, in all the circumstances, the
direction was unreasonable.
(6) In this section
"in control", in relation to a thing, means
having, or reasonably appearing to a rail
safety officer as having, authority to
exercise control over the thing.
87. Rail safety officer may direct a thing's return
(1) If a rail safety officer has directed a person to
take a thing to a specified place within a
specified time under section 86(1), a rail safety
officer may direct the person to return the thing
to the place from which it was taken.
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(2) A person given a direction under subsection (1)
must comply with that direction unless the
person has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
88. Receipt for seized things
(1) After a rail safety officer seizes a thing under
this Part, the officer must give a receipt for it to
the person from whom the thing was seized or
the owner of the thing.
(2) However, if for any reason it is not practicable to
comply with subsection (1), the officer must
leave the receipt at the place of seizure in a
conspicuous position and in a reasonably secure
way.
(3) The receipt must describe generally the thing
seized and its condition.
(4) This section does not apply if it would be
impracticable or unreasonable to expect the
officer to account for the thing, given its
condition, nature and value.
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89. Access to seized thing
(1) Until a seized thing is forfeited or returned, a rail
safety officer must allow its owner to inspect it
and, if it is a document, to copy it.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if it is
impracticable or it would be unreasonable to
allow the inspection or copying.
90. Embargo notices
(1) This section applies if
(a) a rail safety officer is authorised to seize
any record, device or other thing under
this Part; and
(b) the record, device or other thing cannot,
or cannot readily, be physically seized
and removed.
(2) A rail safety officer may issue an embargo notice
under this section.
(3) An embargo notice is a notice forbidding the
use, movement, sale, leasing, transfer, deletion
of information from or other dealing with the
record, device or other thing, or any part of it,
without the written consent of a rail safety
officer or the Rail Safety Regulator.
(4) The embargo notice must
(a) contain the particulars required by the
regulations; and
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(b) list the activities that it forbids; and
(c) set out a copy of subsection (9).
(5) On issuing an embargo notice, a rail safety
officer must
(a) cause a copy of the notice to be served on
the owner of the record, device or other
thing; or
(b) if that person cannot be located after all
reasonable steps have been taken to do
so, affix a copy of the notice to the
record, device or other thing in a
prominent position.
(6) A person must not knowingly do anything that is
forbidden by an embargo notice.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
(7) A person must not instruct or request another
person to do anything that the first-mentioned
person knows is forbidden by an embargo notice.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
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(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
(8) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence
against subsection (6) to establish that the person
charged
(a) moved the record, device or other thing,
or part of it, for the purpose of protecting
or preserving it; and
(b) notified the rail safety officer who issued
the embargo notice of the move and of
the new location of the record, device or
other thing or part of it, within 48 hours
after the move.
(9) A person on whom an embargo notice has been
served must take reasonable steps to prevent
another person from doing anything forbidden
by the embargo notice.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
(10) Despite anything to the contrary in any other Act
or at law, a sale, lease, transfer or other dealing
with a record, device or other thing, or part of it,
in contravention of this section is void.
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Division 5 Forfeiture
91. Return of seized things
(1) As soon as possible after a rail safety officer
seizes any thing (including a document) under
this Part, the rail safety officer must return the
thing to the owner unless
(a) the rail safety officer considers it
necessary to retain the thing because it
may afford evidence in proceedings, that
have been or may be commenced, for an
offence against the rail safety law; or
(b) the thing is forfeited to the Crown under
section 92; or
(c) the rail safety officer is otherwise
authorised (by law or an order of a court)
to retain, destroy or dispose of the thing.
(2) The thing may be returned either unconditionally
or on the terms and conditions that the rail safety
officer considers appropriate to eliminate or
reduce any risks to safety.
(3) If the rail safety officer imposes terms or
conditions on the return of a thing, the owner
must comply with the terms and conditions.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
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(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
92. Forfeiture
(1) A sample or thing taken for analysis, or a thing
seized under this Part, is forfeited to the Crown
if the rail safety officer who took, or arranged
the taking of, the sample or thing or who seized
the thing
(a) after making reasonable efforts, cannot
return it to its owner; or
(b) after making reasonable inquiries, cannot
find its owner; or
(c) considers it necessary to retain the
sample or thing to prevent the
commission of an offence against the rail
safety law.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the officer is
not required to
(a) make efforts if it would be unreasonable
to make efforts to return the sample or
thing to its owner; or
(b) make inquiries if it would be
unreasonable to make inquiries to find
the owner.
(3) In deciding whether
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(a) it is reasonable to make efforts or
inquiries; and
(b) if efforts or inquiries are made, the
efforts or inquiries, including the period
over which they are made, are
reasonable
regard must be had to the sample or thing's
condition, nature and value.
(4) In this section
"owner", in relation to a sample or a thing
taken for analysis, includes the person in
charge of the thing or place from which
the sample or thing was taken.
93. Dealing with forfeited sample or thing
(1) On forfeiture of a sample or thing to the Crown,
the sample or thing becomes the Crown's
property and may be dealt with by the Rail
Safety Regulator in any way the Rail Safety
Regulator considers appropriate.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Rail Safety
Regulator may destroy or dispose of the sample
or thing.
(3) If a thing is forfeited to the Crown under
section 92(1)(c), the rail safety officer must
notify, in writing, the owner
(a) of the forfeiture; and
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(b) about the right of the owner to seek
review under Part 10 of the decision to
forfeit the thing
unless the rail safety officer cannot find the
owner despite making reasonable enquiries.
Division 6 Directions
94. Directions to certain persons to give assistance
(1) A rail safety officer may direct a rail transport
operator or a rail safety worker to give the rail
safety officer reasonable assistance to enable the
officer to exercise a power under this Part.
Example When inspecting rolling stock, a rail safety officer may ask
the driver of the rolling stock to accompany the officer or to
explain how a piece of equipment is used as part of the
accredited person's approved safety management system for
the railway or for the operation of rolling stock on the railway.
(2) When giving a direction to a person under
subsection (1), the rail safety officer must warn
the person that it is an offence to fail to comply
with the direction unless the person has a
reasonable excuse.
(3) A person given a direction under subsection (1)
must comply with the direction unless the person
has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
(4) In this section
"reasonable assistance" includes
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(a) assistance to enable the rail safety
officer to find and gain access to
electronically stored material and
information; and
(b) unloading rolling stock; and
(c) running the engine of a
locomotive; and
(d) driving a train; and
(e) giving the rail safety officer
assistance to enter any rail
infrastructure or any part of rail
infrastructure or open rolling
stock or any part of rolling stock.
95. Directions to give name and address
(1) A rail safety officer may direct a person to state
the person's name and residential or business
address if the officer
(a) finds the person committing an offence
against the rail safety law; or
(b) finds the person in circumstances that
lead, or has information that leads, the
officer reasonably to suspect the person
has committed an offence against the rail
safety law; or
(c) finds the person at railway premises and
the officer
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(i) reasonably believes the person is
carrying out railway operations
for a rail transport operator; and
(ii) reasonably considers that it is
necessary for the purposes of the
rail safety law to know the
person's name and residential or
business address.
(2) When giving a direction under subsection (1),
the officer must warn the person it is an offence
to fail to state the person's name or address
unless the person has a reasonable excuse.
(3) The officer may also direct the person to give
evidence of the correctness of the stated name or
address if the officer reasonably suspects the
stated name or address is false.
(4) A person given a direction under subsection (1)
or (3) must comply with the direction, unless the
person has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
96. Direction to produce documents
(1) A rail safety officer may direct a person to make
available for inspection by the officer at a
specified time and place, or produce to the
officer for inspection at a specified time and
place
(a) a document that is required to be kept by
the person under the rail safety law; or
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(b) a document that
(i) is prepared by the person under
the rail safety law for the
management of rail infrastructure
or the operation of rolling stock;
and
(ii) the officer reasonably believes is
necessary for the officer to
consider, in order to understand
or verify a document that is
required to be kept under the rail
safety law; or
(c) a document held by, or under the control
of, the person relating to the carrying out
of railway operations.
Example A safety management system may require testing of
equipment as part of a scheduled maintenance program and a
record of the results of the test to be kept. If an item of
equipment is tested in accordance with the safety management
system, the document that states the results of the test is a
document prepared under the safety management system.
(2) When giving a direction under subsection (1),
the rail safety officer must warn the person that
it is an offence to fail to comply with the
direction, unless the person has a reasonable
excuse.
(3) The rail safety officer may keep the document to
copy it but must return the document to the
person after copying it.
(4) A person given a direction to make available, or
produce, for inspection a document under
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subsection (1) must comply with the direction,
unless the person has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
Division 7 Improvement notices
97. Improvement notices
(1) A rail safety officer may serve an improvement
notice on a person if the officer believes on
reasonable grounds that the person
(a) is contravening a provision of the rail
safety law; or
(b) has contravened a provision of the rail
safety law and it is likely that the
contravention will continue or be
repeated; or
(c) is carrying out or has carried out railway
operations that threaten safety.
(2) The rail safety officer may serve on a person an
improvement notice requiring the person, within
the period specified in the notice
(a) to undertake remedial rail safety work or
do any other thing to remedy the
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contravention or likely contravention, or
the matters or activities occasioning the
contravention or likely contravention; or
(b) to carry out railway operations so that
safety is not threatened or likely to be
threatened.
(3) The period within which a person is required by
the improvement notice to comply with the
notice must be at least 7 days after service of the
notice.
(4) An improvement notice must
(a) state the reasons for the service of the
notice; and
(b) if it is served in respect of a
contravention or likely contravention of
the rail safety law, specify the provision
of the rail safety law in respect of which
the belief is held; and
(c) if it is served on a person who is carrying
out or has carried out railway operations
that threaten safety, specify the
operations in respect of which that belief
is held; and
(d) include information about the right to a
review under Part 10 of the decision to
serve the notice; and
(e) set out the penalty for contravening the
notice; and
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(f) include a statement of the effect of
section 100; and
(g) state that it is served under this section.
(5) An improvement notice served on a person on a
ground stated in subsection (1)(a) or (b)
(a) may specify a method by which the
alleged contravention or likely
contravention, or the matters or activities
occasioning the alleged contravention or
likely contravention, are to be remedied;
and
(b) may offer the person on whom the notice
has been served a choice of ways by
which an alleged contravention or likely
contravention, or the matters or activities
occasioning the alleged contravention or
likely contravention, may be remedied;
and
(c) may specify that a person provide the
Rail Safety Regulator with a program of
rail safety work that the person proposes
to carry out to remedy the alleged
contravention or likely contravention, or
the matters or activities occasioning the
alleged contravention or likely
contravention.
(6) An improvement notice served on a person on
the ground stated in subsection (1)(c)
(a) may specify a method by which railway
operations may be carried out so that
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safety is not threatened or likely to be
threatened; and
(b) may offer the person on whom the notice
has been served a choice of ways by
which railway operations may be carried
out so that safety is not threatened or
likely to be threatened; and
(c) may specify that the person provide the
Rail Safety Regulator with a program of
railway operations that the person
proposes to carry out to remedy the threat
or likely threat to safety.
(7) A program referred to in subsection (5)(c) or
subsection (6)(c) may include a timetable for the
completion of the program of rail safety work.
98. Contravention of improvement notice
(1) A person on whom an improvement notice has
been served must comply with the notice, unless
the person has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 1 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 200 penalty units.
(2) In proceedings against a person for an offence of
engaging in conduct that results in a
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contravention of a requirement of an
improvement notice served on a ground stated in
section 97(1)(a) or (b), it is a defence if the
person charged establishes that
(a) the alleged contravention or likely
contravention; or
(b) the matters or activities occasioning the
alleged contravention or likely
contravention
were remedied within the period specified in the
notice, though by a method different from that
specified in the improvement notice.
(3) In proceedings against a person for an offence of
engaging in conduct that results in a
contravention of a requirement of an
improvement notice on the ground stated in
section 97(1)(c), it is a defence if the person
charged establishes that the threat to safety was
removed within the period specified in the
notice, though by a method different from that
specified in the improvement notice.
99. Withdrawal or amendment of improvement notices
(1) An improvement notice served by a rail safety
officer
(a) may be withdrawn by notice served by a
rail safety officer on the person affected
by the notice; and
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(b) may be amended by any rail safety
officer, by notice served on the person
affected by the notice.
(2) An amendment of an improvement notice is
effected by service on the person affected of a
notice stating the terms of the amendment.
(3) An amendment of an improvement notice served
on a person is ineffective if it purports to deal
with a contravention of a different provision of
the rail safety law from that dealt with in the
improvement notice as first served.
(4) A notice of an amendment of an improvement
notice must
(a) state the reasons for the amendment; and
(b) include information about obtaining a
review under Part 10 of the decision to
amend the notice; and
(c) state that it is served under this section.
100. Proceedings for offences not affected by
improvement notices
The service, amendment or withdrawal of an
improvement notice does not affect any
proceedings for an offence against the rail safety
law in connection with any matter in respect of
which the improvement notice was served.
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101. Rail Safety Regulator to arrange for rail safety
work required by improvement notice to be carried
out
(1) If a person fails to comply with an improvement
notice served on the person that requires the
person to carry out rail safety work to remedy
(a) the alleged contravention or likely
contravention; or
(b) the matters or activities occasioning the
alleged contravention or likely
contravention
the Rail Safety Regulator may arrange for that
rail safety work to be carried out.
(2) The Rail Safety Regulator may recover from the
person served with an improvement notice
referred to in subsection (1) the reasonable costs
and expenses incurred by the Rail Safety
Regulator for rail safety work carried out.
Division 8 Prohibition notices
102. Prohibition notice
(1) This section applies if an activity
(a) is occurring in relation to railway
operations or railway premises that
involves or will involve an immediate
risk to safety; or
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(b) may occur in relation to railway
operations or railway premises that, if it
occurs, will involve an immediate risk to
safety; or
(c) may occur at, on, or in the immediate
vicinity of, rail infrastructure or rolling
stock that, if it occurs, will involve an
immediate risk to safety.
(2) If a rail safety officer believes on reasonable
grounds that an activity referred to in
subsection (1) is occurring or may occur, the rail
safety officer may serve a prohibition notice on a
person who has or appears to have control over
the activity.
(3) The prohibition notice may prohibit the carrying
on of the activity, or the carrying on of the
activity in a specified way, until the rail safety
officer has certified in writing that the matters
that give or will give rise to the risk have been
remedied.
(4) A prohibition notice has effect upon being
served or, if the notice specifies a later date, on
that later date.
(5) A prohibition notice must
(a) state the basis for the rail safety officer's
belief on which the service of the notice
is based; and
(b) specify the activity which the rail safety
officer believes involves or will involve
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the risk and the matters which give or
will give rise to the risk; and
(c) if the rail safety officer believes that the
activity involves a contravention or
likely contravention of a provision of the
rail safety law, specify that provision and
state the basis for that belief; and
(d) include information about the right to a
review under Part 10 of the decision to
serve the notice; and
(e) set out the penalty for contravening the
notice; and
(f) include a statement of the effect of
section 106; and
(g) state that it is served under this section.
(6) A prohibition notice may include directions on
the measures to be taken to minimise or
eliminate the risk, activities or matters to which
the notice relates, or the contravention or likely
contravention mentioned in subsection (5)(c).
(7) A direction in a prohibition notice may
(a) require that measures be taken in
accordance with a compliance code; or
(b) offer the person on whom the notice has
been served a choice of ways to remedy
the risk, activities or matters to which the
notice relates or the contravention or
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likely contravention mentioned in
subsection (5)(c).
(8) A prohibition notice that prohibits the carrying
on of an activity in a specified way may do so by
specifying one or more of the following:
(a) a place, or part of a place, at which the
activity is not to be carried out;
(b) any thing that is not to be used in
connection with the activity;
(c) any procedure that is not to be followed
in connection with the activity.
103. Contravention of prohibition notice
A person on whom a prohibition notice is served
must comply with the notice, unless the person
has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
104. Oral direction before prohibition notice served
(1) If a rail safety officer
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(a) believes on reasonable grounds that an
activity referred to in section 102(1) is
occurring or may occur; and
(b) that it is not possible or reasonable to
serve a prohibition notice under that
section immediately
the officer may direct a person who has or
appears to have control over the activity to do or
not to do a stated act by telling the person
(c) to do or not to do the stated act; and
(d) the reason for the officer giving the
direction.
(2) A person to whom a direction is given under
subsection (1) must comply with it, unless the
person has a reasonable excuse.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) It is a reasonable excuse if the rail safety officer
did not tell the person that the person commits
an offence if the person does not comply with
the direction.
(4) If a rail safety officer gives a direction under
subsection (1) in respect of an activity but does
not, within 5 days of giving the direction, serve a
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prohibition notice in respect of the activity, the
direction ceases to have effect.
105. Withdrawal or amendment of prohibition notice
(1) A prohibition notice served by a rail safety
officer
(a) may be withdrawn by notice served by a
rail safety officer on the person affected
by the notice; and
(b) may be amended by notice served by a
rail safety officer on the person affected
by the notice.
(2) An amendment of a prohibition notice is effected
by service on the person affected of a notice
stating the terms of the amendment.
(3) An amendment of a prohibition notice is
ineffective if it purports to deal with a
contravention of a different provision of the rail
safety law from that dealt with in the prohibition
notice as first served.
(4) A notice of an amendment of a prohibition
notice must
(a) state the reasons for the amendment; and
(b) include information about obtaining a
review under Part 10 of the decision to
amend the notice; and
(c) state that it is served under this section.
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106. Proceedings for offences not affected by prohibition
notices
The service, amendment or withdrawal of a
prohibition notice does not affect any
proceedings for an offence against the rail safety
law in connection with any matter in respect of
which the prohibition notice was served.
Division 9 Miscellaneous
107. Directions may be given under more than one
provision
(1) A rail safety officer may, on the same occasion,
give directions under one or more provisions of
this Part.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a rail safety
officer may, in the course of exercising powers
under a provision of this Part, give either or both
of the following:
(a) further directions under the provision;
(b) directions under one or more other
provisions of this Part.
108. Temporary closing of railway crossings, bridges,
&c.
(1) In this section
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"authorised person" means a person who is
authorised by the Rail Safety Regulator
under subsection (4);
"railway crossing" means a level crossing,
bridge, or other structure, used to cross or
passing over or under a railway.
(2) An authorised person may close temporarily, or
regulate, a railway crossing if he or she is
satisfied it is necessary because of an immediate
threat to safety.
(3) If an authorised person decides to close
temporarily, or regulate, a railway crossing, the
authorised person must, as soon as practicable
after its closure or regulation, notify the person
or authority responsible for the railway crossing
of its closure or regulation.
(4) The Rail Safety Regulator may authorise a
person for the purposes of this section.
109. Restoring rail infrastructure and rolling stock &c.
to original condition after action taken
If
(a) a rail safety officer, or a person assisting
the rail safety officer, takes any action in
the exercise or purported exercise of any
power under this Part in relation to rail
infrastructure or rolling stock, railway
premises or a road vehicle; and
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(b) damage was caused by the unreasonable
exercise of the power or by the use of
force that was not authorised under this
Part
the rail safety officer must take reasonable steps
to return the rail infrastructure or rolling stock,
railway premises or road vehicle to the condition
it or they were in immediately before the action
was taken.
110. Use of force
A power conferred by this part to enter any
railway premises, or to do anything in or on any
railway premises, may not be exercised unless
the rail safety officer, or a person assisting a rail
safety officer proposing to exercise the power,
uses no more force than is reasonably necessary
to effect the entry or to do the thing for which
the entry is effected.
111. Power to use force against persons to be exercised
only by police officers
A provision in this Part that authorises a rail
safety officer, or a person assisting a rail safety
officer, to use reasonable force does not
authorise a rail safety officer, or a person, who is
not a police officer to use force against another
person.
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112. Protection from incrimination
(1) A natural person is not excused from complying
with a requirement under section 77(1)(h) or a
direction under Division 4 or 6
(a) to give his or her name and residential or
business address; or
(b) to produce a document; or
(c) to give or provide information
on the ground that compliance with the
requirement or direction may result in
information being provided that might
incriminate the person or may make the person
liable to a penalty.
(2) However, any information obtained or document
produced as a direct result of the compliance
with the requirement or direction is not
admissible in evidence against the person in
criminal proceedings, other than proceedings in
respect of false information, or proceedings that
may make the person liable to a penalty
(a) if the person claims before giving the
information or producing the document
that it might incriminate the person or
make the person liable to a penalty; or
(b) if the person was not, before the
information was given or the document
was produced, informed of his or her
entitlement to make a claim of the kind
referred to in paragraph (a).
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(3) Except as provided in subsection (2), any
information given, or document produced, by a
natural person as a direct result of the
compliance with the requirement or direction
may be used in evidence in any criminal or civil
proceedings against the person.
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PART 10 REVIEW OF DECISIONS
113. Reviewable decisions
(1) A decision made under a section of this Act that
is specified in Column 2 of the table to this
section is a reviewable decision.
(2) A person is an eligible person in relation to a
reviewable decision if the person is specified, in
Column 3 of the table to this section, opposite
the reviewable decision in column 2.
Item Column 2 Column 3
Provision under which Eligible person in relation to
reviewable decision is made reviewable decision
1. Section 21(5) (Rail Safety A rail transport operator who has
Regulator not acting in applied for accreditation
accordance with guidelines)
2. Section 22(1) (refusal to accredit A rail transport operator whose
or imposing conditions or application for accreditation is
restrictions on accreditation) refused or is subject to conditions
or restrictions
3. Section 22(4)(c) (extending the A rail transport operator who has
period for determining an applied for accreditation
application)
4. Section 30 (revocation or A rail transport operator whose
suspension of accreditation) accreditation is revoked or
suspended
5. Section 31(1)(immediate A rail transport operator whose
suspension) accreditation is suspended
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Item Column 2 Column 3
Provision under which Eligible person in relation to
reviewable decision is made reviewable decision
6. Section 31(2) (extension of A rail transport operator whose
immediate suspension) accreditation is suspended
7. Section 35(1) (refusal to grant A rail transport operator whose
variation of accreditation) application for variation of
accreditation is refused
8. Section 35(1) (grant of variation A rail transport operator whose
of accreditation subject to accreditation is varied subject to a
conditions or restrictions) condition or restriction
9. Section 35(4)(c) (extending the A rail transport operator who has
period for determining an applied for variation of
application for variation) accreditation
10. Section 37(3) (refusal to grant A rail transport operator whose
variation of condition or application for variation of a
restriction of accreditation) condition or restriction is refused
11. Section 38(1) (variation or A rail transport operator whose
revocation of a condition or conditions or restrictions of
restriction, or imposition of a new accreditation are changed
condition or restriction)
12. Section 45(1) (direction to amend A rail transport operator given a
safety management system) direction to amend a safety
management system
13. Section 92(1)(c) (retention of A person who is the owner,
sample or seized thing to prevent within the meaning of
commission of offence) section 92(4), of the sample or
thing
14. Section 97 (decision to serve an A person on whom an
improvement notice) improvement notice is served
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Item Column 2 Column 3
Provision under which Eligible person in relation to
reviewable decision is made reviewable decision
15. Section 99 (decision to amend A person on whom a notice of
improvement notice) amendment of an improvement
notice is served
16. Section 102(2) (decision to serve a A person on whom a prohibition
prohibition notice) notice is served
17. Section 105(1) (decision to amend A person on whom a notice of
a prohibition notice) amendment of a prohibition
notice is served
114. Review by Rail Safety Regulator
(1) An eligible person in relation to a reviewable
decision made by the Rail Safety Regulator may,
within 28 days after the decision is made, apply
to the Rail Safety Regulator for a review by the
Rail Safety Regulator of the decision.
(2) An eligible person in relation to a reviewable
decision made by a person other than the Rail
Safety Regulator, may, within
(a) 28 days after the day on which the
decision first came to the eligible
person's notice; or
(b) a longer period that the Rail Safety
Regulator allows
apply to the Rail Safety Regulator for review, by
the Rail Safety Regulator, of the decision.
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(3) An application under this section must be in the
form approved in writing by the Rail Safety
Regulator.
(4) If an application is made to the Rail Safety
Regulator in accordance with this section, the
Rail Safety Regulator must make a decision
(a) to affirm or vary the reviewable decision;
or
(b) to set aside the reviewable decision and
substitute another decision that the Rail
Safety Regulator considers appropriate.
(5) The Rail Safety Regulator must make a decision
under subsection (4)
(a) within 14 days (or if the reviewable
decision was made under section 97,
section 99 or section 102 or 105, within 7
days) after the application is made; or
(b) with the agreement of the applicant, at a
later date; or
(c) if the Rail Safety Regulator sought
further information for the purposes of
making a decision and the applicant is
notified of the date by which the
information is to be obtained, by that
date
whichever is the later.
(6) The Rail Safety Regulator must give a written
notice to the applicant setting out
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(a) the Rail Safety Regulator's decision
under subsection (4) and the reasons for
the decision; and
(b) the findings on material questions of fact
that led to the decision, referring to the
evidence or other material on which
those findings were based.
(7) If the Rail Safety Regulator has not notified an
applicant of a decision in accordance with
subsection (6) on or before the date by which,
under subsection (5), the decision must be made,
the Rail Safety Regulator is taken to have made
a decision to affirm the reviewable decision.
(8) An application under this section does not affect
the operation of the reviewable decision, or
prevent the taking of any action to implement the
decision, unless the Rail Safety Regulator, on the
Rail Safety Regulator's own initiative or on the
application of the applicant for review, stays the
operation of the decision (not being a prohibition
notice) pending the determination of the review.
(9) The Rail Safety Regulator must make a decision
on an application for a stay by the end of the
next following business day after the making of
the application.
(10) If the Rail Safety Regulator has not made a
decision in accordance with subsection (9), the
Rail Safety Regulator is taken to have made a
decision to grant a stay.
(11) The Rail Safety Regulator may attach any
conditions to a stay of the operation of a
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reviewable decision that the Rail Safety
Regulator considers appropriate.
115. Review by Magistrates Court (Administrative
Appeals Division)
(1) A person may apply to the Magistrates Court
(Administrative Appeals Division) for review
of
(a) a reviewable decision made by the Rail
Safety Regulator; or
(b) a decision made, or taken to have been
made, by the Rail Safety Regulator under
section 114 in respect of a reviewable
decision (including a decision concerning
a stay of the operation of the reviewable
decision)
if the person is an eligible person in relation to
the reviewable decision.
(2) The application must be made
(a) if the decision is to forfeit a thing,
including a document, seized under
Part 9, within 28 days after the day on
which the decision first came to the
applicant's notice; or
(b) in relation to any other decision, within
14 days after the day on which the
decision first came to the applicant's
notice; or
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(c) if the Rail Safety Regulator is required
under the Magistrates Court
(Administrative Appeals Division) Act
2001 to give the applicant a statement of
reasons, within 14 days after the day on
which the applicant is given the
statement
whichever period ends last.
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PART 11 GENERAL LIABILITY AND EVIDENTIARY
PROVISIONS
Division 1 General
116. Period within which proceedings for offences may
be commenced
(1) This section applies to an offence against the rail
safety law, other than
(a) an offence prescribed for the purposes of
this section; and
(b) an offence in respect of which
proceedings may only be commenced
within a period of less than 2 years after
its alleged commission.
(2) Despite anything to the contrary in any other
Act, proceedings for an offence against the rail
safety law to which this section applies may be
commenced within
(a) the period of 2 years after the
commission of the alleged offence; or
(b) a further period of one year commencing
on the day on which the Rail Safety
Regulator, a rail safety officer or a police
officer first obtained evidence of the
commission of the alleged offence
considered reasonably sufficient by the
Rail Safety Regulator or officer to
warrant commencement of proceedings.
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(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a certificate,
purporting to have been issued by the Rail Safety
Regulator, a rail safety officer or a police officer,
as to the date when the Rail Safety Regulator or
officer first obtained evidence considered
reasonably sufficient by the Rail Safety
Regulator or officer to warrant commencement
of proceedings, is admissible in any proceedings
and is evidence of the matters stated.
117. Authority to take proceedings
(1) Subject to this section, any proceedings for an
offence against, or to recover any charge, fee or
money due under, the rail safety law may be
taken only by
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) a person authorised by the Rail Safety
Regulator for the purpose, either
generally or in any particular case.
(2) Proceedings against the Crown or a statutory
body representing the Crown for an offence
against the rail safety law are not to be instituted
without the written consent of the Minister.
(3) In any proceedings referred to in this section, the
production of an authority or consent purporting
to be signed by the Rail Safety Regulator or the
Minister is to be evidence of the authority or
consent without proof of the signature of the Rail
Safety Regulator or the Minister.
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(4) The Rail Safety Regulator may, for the purposes
of subsection (1), authorise any person who is a
member of a specified class of persons to take
the actions referred to in that subsection.
118. Vicarious responsibility
(1) If, in any proceedings for an offence against the
rail safety law, it is necessary to establish the
state of mind of a body corporate in relation to
particular conduct, it is sufficient to show
(a) that the conduct was engaged in by a
director, employee or agent of the body
corporate within the scope of his or her
actual or apparent authority; and
(b) that the director, employee or agent had
the relevant state of mind.
(2) For the purposes of a prosecution for an offence
against the rail safety law, conduct engaged in
on behalf of a body corporate by a director,
employee, volunteer or agent of the body
corporate within the scope of his or her actual or
apparent authority is taken to have been engaged
in also by the body corporate unless the body
corporate establishes that it took reasonable
precautions and exercised due diligence to avoid
the conduct.
(3) If, in proceedings for an offence against the rail
safety law, it is necessary to establish the state of
mind of a person other than the body corporate
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(the "employer") in relation to particular
conduct, it is sufficient to show
(a) that the conduct was engaged in by an
employee, volunteer or agent of the
employer within the scope of his or her
actual or apparent authority; and
(b) that the employee, volunteer or agent had
the relevant state of mind.
(4) For the purposes of a prosecution for an offence
against the rail safety law, conduct engaged in
on behalf of a person other than a body corporate
(the "employer") by an employee, volunteer or
agent of the employer within the scope of his or
her actual or apparent authority is taken to have
been engaged in also by the employer, unless the
employer establishes that the employer took
reasonable precautions and exercised due
diligence to avoid the conduct.
(5) In this section
"director" of a body corporate includes a
constituent member of a body corporate
incorporated for a public purpose by a
law of any jurisdiction;
"state of mind" of a person includes
(a) the knowledge, intention,
opinion, belief or purpose of the
person; and
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(b) the person's reasons for the
intention, opinion, belief or
purpose.
119. Records and evidence from records
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator must keep records
of
(a) the grant, refusal, variation, suspension,
surrender and revocation of
accreditations under this Act; and
(b) any conditions or restrictions of
accreditations under this Act; and
(c) improvement notices and prohibition
notices under this Act.
(2) A certificate purporting to be signed by the Rail
Safety Regulator and certifying that
(a) on a date specified in the certificate; or
(b) during any period so specified
the particulars set out in the certificate as to any
matter required to be recorded under this section
did or did not appear on or from the records is,
for the purposes of any proceedings, evidence of
what it certifies.
(3) A certificate referred to in subsection (2) is
admissible in any proceedings
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(a) without proof of the signature of the Rail
Safety Regulator; and
(b) without production of any record or
document on which the certificate is
founded.
120. Certificate evidence
A statement in a certificate purporting to be
issued by the Rail Safety Regulator, a
corresponding Rail Safety Regulator, a rail
safety officer or a police officer as to any matter
that appears in, or can be calculated from,
documents kept or accessed by the Rail Safety
Regulator, is admissible in any proceedings and
is evidence of the matter.
121. Proof of appointments and signatures unnecessary
(1) For the purposes of this Act and the regulations,
it is not necessary to prove the appointment of an
office holder.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a signature
purporting to be the signature of an office holder
is evidence of the signature it purports to be.
(3) In this section
"office holder" means
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; and
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(b) a corresponding Rail Safety
Regulator; and
(c) a rail safety officer; and
(d) a rail safety officer of another
jurisdiction; and
(e) a police officer; and
(f) a police officer of another
jurisdiction.
122. Multiple offences
Despite anything to the contrary in this or any
other law, a person may be punished for more
than one breach of a requirement of the rail
safety law if the breaches relate to different parts
of the same rail infrastructure, railway premises
or rolling stock.
123. Offences by bodies corporate, partnerships,
associations and employees
(1) If a body corporate commits an offence against
the rail safety law, each director of the body
corporate, and each person concerned in the
management of the body corporate, is taken to
have committed the offence and may be
convicted of the offence.
(2) If a person who is a partner in a partnership
commits an offence against the rail safety law in
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the course of the activities of the partnership,
each other person who is a partner in the
partnership, and each person concerned in the
management of the partnership, is taken to have
committed the offence and may be convicted of
the offence.
(3) If a person who is concerned in the management
of an unincorporated association commits an
offence against the rail safety law in the course
of the activities of the unincorporated
association, each other person concerned in the
management of the unincorporated association is
taken to have committed the offence and may be
convicted of the offence.
(4) Subsections (1), (2) and (3) do not affect the
liability of the person who actually committed
the offence.
(5) If an employee commits an offence against the
rail safety law, the employer is taken to have
committed the offence and may be convicted of
the offence.
(6) A person may be proceeded against and found
guilty of an offence arising under this section
whether or not the body corporate or other
person who actually committed the offence has
been proceeded against or been found guilty of
the offence.
(7) It is a defence to a charge for an offence arising
under subsection (1) if the defendant establishes
that
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(a) the defendant was not in a position to
influence the conduct of the body
corporate in relation to the actual
offence; or
(b) the defendant, being in such a position,
took reasonable precautions and
exercised due diligence to prevent the
commission of the actual offence.
(8) It is a defence to a charge for an offence arising
under subsection (2) or (3) if the defendant
establishes that
(a) the defendant was not in a position to
influence the conduct of the person who
actually committed the offence; or
(b) the defendant, being in such a position,
took reasonable precautions and
exercised due diligence to prevent the
commission of the actual offence.
(9) It is a defence to a charge for an offence arising
under subsection (5) if the defendant establishes
that
(a) the defendant had no knowledge of the
actual offence; or
(b) the defendant took reasonable
precautions and exercised due diligence
to prevent the commission of the actual
offence.
(10) An officer
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(a) of a body corporate (including a body
corporate representing the Crown); or
(b) of a partnership or unincorporated body
or association
who is a volunteer, is not liable to be prosecuted
under this section for anything done or not done
by him or her as a volunteer.
Division 2 Discrimination against employees
124. Dismissal or other victimisation of employee
(1) This section applies to
(a) an employer who dismisses an employee,
injures an employee in the employment
of the employer or alters the position of
an employee to the employee's
detriment; and
(b) an employer who threatens to do any of
those things to an employee; and
(c) an employer or prospective employer
who refuses or fails to offer employment
to a prospective employee or treats a
prospective employee less favourably
than another prospective employee
would be treated in offering terms of
employment.
(2) The employer or prospective employer is guilty
of an offence if the employer or prospective
employer engaged in that conduct because the
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employee or prospective employee (as the case
may be)
(a) has assisted or has given any information
to a public agency in respect of a breach
or alleged breach of an Australian rail
safety law; or
(b) has made a complaint about a breach or
alleged breach of an Australian rail
safety law to the employer, a fellow
employee, a union or a public agency; or
(c) assists or has assisted, or gives or has
given any information to, a public
agency in respect of a breach or alleged
breach of an Australian rail safety law; or
(d) has made a complaint about a breach or
alleged breach of an Australian rail
safety law to a former employer, a
former fellow employee, a union or a
public agency.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 250 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(3) An employer or prospective employer may be
guilty of an offence against subsection (2) only if
the reason mentioned in subsection (2)(a), (b),
(c) or (d) is the dominant reason why the
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employer or prospective employer engaged in
the conduct.
(4) In this section
"employee" includes a natural person who
works under a contract for services;
"public agency" includes an Australian Rail
Safety Regulator, a rail safety officer, a
police officer and a police officer of
another jurisdiction.
125. Defendant bears onus of proof
In proceedings for an offence against
section 124, if all the facts constituting the
offence other than the reason for the defendant's
conduct are proved, the defendant bears the onus
of proving that the reason alleged in the charge
was not the dominant reason why the defendant
engaged in the conduct.
126. Order for damages or reinstatement
(1) If an employer or prospective employer is
convicted or found guilty of an offence against
section 124, the court may (in addition to
imposing a penalty) make either or both of the
following orders:
(a) an order that the offender pay, within a
specified period, the damages to the
employee or prospective employee
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against whom the offender discriminated
that the court considers appropriate to
compensate him or her;
(b) an order that
(i) the employee be reinstated or re-
employed in his or her former
position or, if that position is not
available, in a similar position; or
(ii) the prospective employee be
employed in the position for
which he or she had applied or a
similar position.
(2) In this section
"employee" includes a natural person who
works under a contract for services.
Division 3 False or misleading information
127. False or misleading information provided to Rail
Safety Regulator or officials
(1) A person commits an offence if
(a) the person makes a statement to the Rail
Safety Regulator or to an official who is
exercising a power under the rail safety
law; and
(b) the person knows that the statement is
false or misleading in a material
particular.
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(2) A person commits an offence if
(a) the person makes a statement to the Rail
Safety Regulator or to an official who is
exercising a power under the rail safety
law; and
(b) the statement is false or misleading in a
material particular; and
(c) the person is reckless as to whether the
statement is false or misleading in a
material particular.
(3) A person commits an offence if
(a) the person gives a document to the Rail
Safety Regulator or to an official who is
exercising a power under the rail safety
law; and
(b) the document is false or misleading in a
material particular; and
(c) the person is reckless as to whether the
document is false or misleading in a
material particular.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if, at the time the
person gave the document to the Rail Safety
Regulator or to an official, the person informed
the Rail Safety Regulator or official that the
document was false or misleading in a material
particular and specified in what respect it was
false or misleading.
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(5) The penalty for an offence under this section
committed in relation to the Rail Safety
Regulator or official exercising a power under
the rail safety law is
(a) if there is one offence under the
provision of the rail safety law under
which the power is exercised, the penalty
for that offence; or
(b) if there is more than one offence under
that provision, the penalties for those
offences if the penalties are the same, or
the lower or lowest of the penalties if
they are different.
(6) In this section
"official" means a rail safety officer or a
person assisting a rail safety officer.
Division 4 Other offences
128. Obstructing or hindering rail safety officers
(1) A person must not intentionally hinder or
obstruct
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) a rail safety officer; or
(c) a person assisting the Rail Safety
Regulator; or
(d) a person assisting a rail safety officer
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in the exercise of his or her functions under the
rail safety law, or encourage another person to
do so.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
(2) A person must not intentionally conceal from
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) a rail safety officer; or
(c) a person assisting the Rail Safety
Regulator; or
(d) a person assisting a rail safety officer
the location or existence of, or fail to comply
with a request from such a person to produce, a
record, document or any other thing.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
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129. Impersonation of rail safety officer
A person who is not a rail safety officer must
not, in any way, hold himself or herself out to be
a rail safety officer.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 100 penalty units.
130. Interference with train, tram &c.
A person must not, without either the permission
of the rail transport operator, a rail safety officer
or a police officer or reasonable excuse
(a) move or attempt to move; or
(b) interfere or attempt to interfere with; or
(c) disable or attempt to disable; or
(d) operate or attempt to operate
any equipment, rail infrastructure or rolling
stock owned or operated by a rail transport
operator.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 200 penalty units.
131. Applying brake or emergency device
A person must not, without reasonable excuse
(a) apply any brake or make use of any
emergency device fitted to a train or
tram; or
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(b) make use of any emergency device on
railway premises.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.
Example Emergency devices include an emergency button on a station
communication board or on an escalator.
132. Stopping train or tram
A person must not, without reasonable excuse,
cause or attempt to cause a train or tram in
motion to be stopped.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.
Division 5 Infringement notices
133. Infringement notices
(1) In this section
"infringement offence" means an offence
against the rail safety law that is
prescribed to be an infringement offence.
(2) A rail safety officer or police officer may issue
and serve an infringement notice on a person if
he or she reasonably believes that the person has
committed an infringement offence.
(3) An infringement notice may not be served on an
individual who has not attained the age of 16
years.
(4) An infringement notice
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(a) is to be in accordance with section 14 of
the Monetary Penalties Enforcement Act
2005; and
(b) is not to relate to more than 3 offences.
(5) The regulations
(a) may prescribe the penalty applicable to
each infringement offence that is payable
under an infringement notice; and
(b) may prescribe different penalties for
bodies corporate and individuals.
(6) The infringement penalty prescribed for an
offence must not exceed 20% of the maximum
penalty that could be imposed on an individual
by a court in respect of the offence.
(7) In the application of the Monetary Penalties
Enforcement Act 2005 to an infringement notice
issued and served under this section
(a) the rail safety officer or police officer
who issued and served the infringement
notice is taken to be a public sector body
within the meaning of that Act; and
(b) a penalty prescribed under subsection (5)
in respect of an infringement offence is
taken to be the prescribed penalty
applicable to that offence for the
purposes of section 14(a)(ii) of that Act.
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Division 6 Enforceable voluntary undertakings
134. Rail Safety Regulator may accept undertakings
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may, by written notice
to a person, accept a written undertaking given
by the person in connection with a matter
relating to a contravention or alleged
contravention by the person of the rail safety
law.
(2) The person may withdraw or vary the
undertaking at any time but only with the Rail
Safety Regulator's written consent.
(3) Neither the Rail Safety Regulator nor a rail
safety officer may bring proceedings for an
offence against the rail safety law constituted by
the contravention or alleged contravention to
which the undertaking relates, unless the
undertaking is withdrawn.
135. Enforcement of undertakings
(1) If the Rail Safety Regulator considers that a
person has contravened an undertaking accepted
by the Rail Safety Regulator, the Rail Safety
Regulator may apply to the Magistrates Court
for enforcement of the undertaking.
(2) If the Magistrates Court is satisfied that the
person has contravened the undertaking, it may
make either or both of the following orders:
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(a) an order that the person must comply
with the undertaking or take specified
action to comply with the undertaking;
(b) any other order that the Magistrates
Court considers appropriate.
Division 7 Court-based sanctions
136. Daily penalty for continuing offences
(1) If an offence is committed by a person by reason
of a contravention of a provision of this Act
under which the person is required or directed to
do any act or thing, or to refrain from doing any
act or thing, that offence is taken to continue so
long as the act or thing so required or directed
remains undone, or continues to be done, as the
case may be.
(2) A person convicted of an offence referred to in
subsection (1) is liable, in addition to the penalty
otherwise prescribed for the offence, in this Act
or by the regulations, to a daily penalty, of not
more than 20% of the maximum penalty so
prescribed, for each day or part of a day during
which the offence continues after conviction.
137. Commercial benefits order
(1) The court that finds a person guilty of an offence
against the rail safety law may, on the
application of the prosecutor or the Rail Safety
Regulator, make an order (in this section referred
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to as a "commercial benefits order") under this
section.
(2) The court may make a commercial benefits order
requiring the person to pay, as a fine, an amount
of not more than 3 times the amount estimated
by the court to be the gross commercial benefit
that
(a) was received or receivable, by the person
or by an associate of the person, from the
commission of the offence; and
(b) in the case of a journey that was
interrupted or not commenced because of
action taken by a rail safety officer in
connection with the commission of the
offence, would have been received or
receivable, by the person or by an
associate of the person, from the
commission of the offence had the
journey been completed.
(3) In estimating the gross commercial benefit that
was or would have been received or receivable
from the commission of the offence, the court
may take into account
(a) benefits of any kind, whether monetary
or otherwise; and
(b) monetary savings or a reduction in any
operating or capital expenditure of any
kind achieved because of the commission
of the offence; and
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(c) any other matters that it considers
relevant, including for example
(i) the value per tonne or per
kilometre of the carriage of the
goods involved in the offence as
freight; and
(ii) the distance over which any such
goods were or were to be carried.
(4) However, in estimating the gross commercial
benefit that was or would have been received or
receivable from the commission of the offence,
the court is required to disregard any costs,
expenses or liabilities incurred by the person or
by an associate of the person.
(5) Nothing in this section prevents the court from
ordering payment of an amount that is
(a) less than 3 times the estimated gross
commercial benefit; or
(b) less than the estimated gross commercial
benefit.
(6) For the purposes of this section, a person is an
associate of another if
(a) one is a spouse, parent, brother, sister or
child of the other; or
(b) they are members of the same household;
or
(c) they are partners; or
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(d) they are both trustees or beneficiaries of
the same trust, or one is a trustee and the
other is a beneficiary of the same trust; or
(e) one is a body corporate and the other is a
director or member of the governing
body of the body corporate; or
(f) one is a body corporate (other than a
public company whose shares are listed
on a stock exchange) and the other is a
shareholder in the body corporate; or
(g) they are related bodies corporate within
the meaning of the Corporations Act; or
(h) a chain of relationships can be traced
between them under any one or more of
the above paragraphs.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), a beneficiary
of a trust includes an object of a trust.
138. Supervisory intervention order
(1) The court that finds a person guilty of an offence
against the rail safety law may, on the
application of the prosecutor or the Rail Safety
Regulator, if the court considers the person to be
a systematic or persistent offender against
Australian rail safety laws, make a supervisory
intervention order under subsection (2).
(2) The court may make a supervisory intervention
order requiring the person (at the person's own
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expense and for a specified period of not more
than one year) to do any or all of the following:
(a) to do specified things that the court
considers will improve the person's
compliance with the rail safety law or
specified aspects of the rail safety law,
including, for example, the following:
(i) appointing or removing staff to or
from particular activities or
positions;
(ii) training and supervising staff;
(iii) obtaining expert advice about
maintaining appropriate
compliance;
(iv) installing monitoring,
compliance, managerial or
operational equipment;
(v) implementing monitoring,
compliance, managerial or
operational practices, systems or
procedures;
(b) to conduct specified monitoring,
compliance, managerial or operational
practices, systems or procedures subject
to the direction of the Rail Safety
Regulator or a person nominated by the
Rail Safety Regulator;
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(c) to provide compliance reports to the Rail
Safety Regulator or the court or both as
specified in the order;
(d) to appoint a person to have
responsibilities
(i) to assist the person in improving
compliance with the rail safety
law or specified aspects of the
rail safety law; and
(ii) to monitor the person's
performance in complying with
the rail safety law or specified
aspects of the rail safety law and
in complying with the
requirements of the order; and
(iii) to provide compliance reports to
the Rail Safety Regulator or the
court, or both, as specified in the
order.
(3) The court may specify matters that are to be
dealt with in compliance reports and the form
and manner in which, and frequency with which,
compliance reports are to be prepared and
provided.
(4) The court may require that compliance reports or
aspects of compliance reports be made public,
and may specify the form and manner in which,
and frequency with which, they are to be made
public.
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(5) The court may only make a supervisory
intervention order if it is satisfied that the order
is capable of improving the person's ability or
willingness to comply with the rail safety law,
having regard to
(a) the offences against Australian rail safety
laws of which the person has been
previously found guilty; and
(b) the offences against Australian rail safety
laws for which the person has been
proceeded against by way of
unwithdrawn infringement notices; and
(c) any other offences or other matters that
the court considers to be relevant to the
conduct of the person in connection with
railway operations.
(6) The supervisory intervention order may direct
that any other penalty or sanction imposed for
the offence by the court is suspended until the
court determines that there has been a substantial
failure to comply with the order.
(7) A court that has power to make supervisory
intervention orders may revoke or amend a
supervisory intervention order on the application
of
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) the person in respect of whom the order
was made, but only if the court is
satisfied that there has been a change of
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circumstances warranting revocation or
amendment.
(8) In this section
"compliance report", in relation to a person
in respect of whom a supervisory
intervention order is made, means a
report relating to
(a) the performance of the person in
complying with
(i) the rail safety law or
aspects of the rail safety
law specified in the order;
and
(ii) the requirements of the
order; and
(b) without limiting the above
(i) things done by the person
to ensure that any failure
by the person to comply
with the rail safety law or
the specified aspects of
the rail safety law does
not continue; and
(ii) the results of those things
having been done.
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139. Contravention of supervisory intervention order
A person who is subject to a requirement of a
supervisory intervention order must not engage
in conduct that results in contravention of the
requirement.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
140. Exclusion orders
(1) A court that finds a person guilty of an offence
against the rail safety law may, on the
application of the prosecutor or the Rail Safety
Regulator, if the court considers the person to be
a systematic or persistent offender against
Australian rail safety laws, make an exclusion
order.
(2) For the purpose of restricting opportunities for
the person to commit or be involved in the
commission of further offences against
Australian rail safety laws, the court may, if it
considers it appropriate to do so, make an
exclusion order under subsection (1) prohibiting
the person, for a specified period, from
(a) managing rail infrastructure, or operating
rolling stock, or managing or operating a
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particular type of rail infrastructure or
rolling stock; or
(b) being a director, secretary or officer
concerned in the management of a body
corporate involved in managing rail
infrastructure that is in this jurisdiction or
operating rolling stock in this
jurisdiction; or
(c) being involved in managing rail
infrastructure that is in this jurisdiction or
operating rolling stock in this jurisdiction
except by driving a train or rolling stock.
(3) The court may only make an exclusion order
under subsection (1) if it is satisfied that the
person should not continue the things which are
the subject of the proposed order and that a
supervisory intervention order is not appropriate,
having regard to
(a) the offences against Australian rail safety
laws of which the person has previously
been found guilty; and
(b) the offences against Australian rail safety
laws of which the person has been
proceeded against by way of
unwithdrawn infringement notices; and
(c) any other offences or other matters that
the court considers to be relevant to the
conduct of the person in connection with
railway operations.
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(4) A court that may make an exclusion order may
revoke or amend an exclusion order made under
subsection (1), on the application of
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) the person in respect of whom the order
was made, but in that case only if the
court is satisfied that there has been a
change of circumstances warranting
revocation or amendment.
141. Contravention of exclusion order
A person who is subject to an exclusion order
under section 140 must not engage in conduct
that results in a contravention of the order.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 500 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units.
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PART 12 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
LEGISLATION
142. Act adds to protection provided by OHS legislation
If a provision of the occupational health and
safety legislation applies to railway operations,
that provision continues to apply, and must be
observed, in addition to the rail safety law.
143. OHS legislation prevails
If a provision of the rail safety law is
inconsistent with a provision of the occupational
health and safety legislation, the provision of the
occupational health and safety legislation
prevails to the extent of any inconsistency.
Note: For example, if a provision of this Act deals with a certain
matter and a provision of the occupational health and safety
legislation deals with the same matter and it is impossible to comply
with both provisions, then the person must comply with the
occupational health and safety legislation and not with this Act. If
provisions of both Acts deal with the same matter but it is possible to
comply with both provisions, then a person must comply with both
Acts.
144. Compliance with this Act is no defence to
prosecution under OHS legislation
Compliance with the rail safety law, or with any
requirement imposed under the rail safety law, is
not in itself a defence in any proceedings for an
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offence against the occupational health and
safety legislation.
Note: For example, a person may be guilty of an offence under the
occupational health and safety legislation in respect of any act or
omission that is expressly required or permitted to be done or
omitted by or under this Act or the regulations made under this Act.
145. Evidence of contravention under this Act is
admissible in OHS legislation proceedings
Evidence of a relevant contravention of the rail
safety law is admissible in any proceedings for
an offence against the occupational health and
safety legislation.
146. No double jeopardy
If an act or omission constitutes an offence
(a) under the rail safety law; and
(b) under the occupational health and safety
legislation
the offender is not liable to be punished twice in
respect of the offence.
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PART 13 ADMINISTRATION
Division 1 Rail Safety Regulator
147. Rail Safety Regulator
(1) The Minister administering this Act may appoint
a State Service officer or State Service employee
to be the Rail Safety Regulator.
(2) A person appointed as the Rail Safety Regulator
may hold that office in conjunction with State
Service employment.
148. Functions
(1) In addition to any other functions conferred on
the Rail Safety Regulator by the rail safety law,
the Rail Safety Regulator has the following
functions:
(a) to administer, audit and review the
accreditation regime under this Act;
(b) to work with rail transport operators, rail
safety workers, others involved in
railway operations and corresponding
Rail Safety Regulators to improve rail
safety in this jurisdiction and nationally;
(c) to provide information to corresponding
Rail Safety Regulators, including
information about causal factors of rail
incidents, accreditation processes,
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investigation methods and risk
assessment methodologies;
(d) to collect and publish information
relating to rail safety;
(e) to provide, or facilitate the provision of,
advice, education and training in relation
to rail safety;
(f) to monitor, investigate and enforce
compliance with this Act and the
regulations.
(2) The functions of the Rail Safety Regulator under
this Act are in addition to any function that the
Rail Safety Regulator has under any other Act or
law.
149. Annual reports
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator must prepare an
annual report in respect of a financial year.
(2) The annual report prepared under subsection (1)
must include
(a) information on the development of rail
safety, including an aggregation of
statistics of a prescribed class reported to
the Rail Safety Regulator under the rail
safety law in respect of that year; and
(b) information on any improvements and
important changes in relation to the
regulation of rail safety.
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(3) The annual report prepared under subsection (1)
may form part of the annual report of the
Department prepared under section 36 of the
State Service Act 2000.
(4) The Rail Safety Regulator is to submit to the
Minister the annual report prepared under
subsection (1).
(5) Except if subsection (3) applies, the Minister is
to cause copies of the annual report for a
financial year to be laid before each House of
Parliament on or before 31 October or another
prescribed date.
(6) A date prescribed for the purposes of
subsection (5) is to be a date not later than 4
months after the end of the financial year.
(7) If the Minister is unable to comply with
subsection (5) by reason of the fact that either
House of Parliament is not sitting, the Minister,
on 31 October or another date prescribed under
subsection (5), as the case may require, is to
(a) forward a copy of the report referred to
in subsection (1) to the Clerk of the
Legislative Council and the Clerk of the
House of Assembly; and
(b) make the report available to the public
and, within the next 7 sitting-days of that House,
is to cause a copy of the report to be laid before
that House.
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(8) If 31 October, or another date prescribed under
subsection (5) is a day ("an excluded day") that
(a) is a Sunday; or
(b) a statutory holiday under the Statutory
Holidays Act 2000; or
(c) a public holiday throughout the State
subsection (7) is taken to be complied with if a
copy of the report is forwarded to the Clerk of
the Legislative Council and the Clerk of the
House of Assembly, and is made available to the
public, on the next day afterwards, not being an
excluded day.
150. Delegation
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may, by instrument in
writing, delegate any of the Rail Safety
Regulator's functions under this Act (other than
this power of delegation) or under the
regulations to a rail safety officer or to any other
person.
(2) A rail safety officer or other person may, by
instrument, delegate to any other person any
function delegated to him or her under
subsection (1) if the Rail Safety Regulator
permits the officer or person to subdelegate the
function to that other person.
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151. Rail Safety Regulator may exercise functions of rail
safety officers
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator may exercise any
function conferred on a rail safety officer by or
under the rail safety law.
(2) Accordingly, in this Act (except this Part) a
reference to a rail safety officer includes a
reference to the Rail Safety Regulator.
Division 2 Rail safety officers
152. Appointment
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator, by instrument in
writing, may appoint to be a rail safety officer
for a term, and subject to the conditions,
specified in the instrument
(a) a State Service officer or a State Service
employee; or
(b) a person who is a member of a prescribed
class of State Service officers or State
Service employees; or
(c) a police officer; or
(d) a police officer who is a member of a
prescribed class of police officers.
(2) A person appointed as a rail safety officer in
accordance with subsection (1)(a) or (b) may
hold that office in conjunction with State Service
employment.
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(3) Without limiting the conditions to which the
appointment of a rail safety officer may be
subject, a condition may specify one or more of
the following:
(a) functions under the rail safety law that
may not be exercised by the rail safety
officer;
(b) the only functions under the rail safety
law that may be exercised by the rail
safety officer;
(c) the circumstances or manner in which a
function under the rail safety law may be
performed by the rail safety officer.
153. Reciprocal powers of rail safety officers
(1) This section has effect in relation to another
jurisdiction while there is in force a
corresponding rail safety law that contains
provisions corresponding to this section.
(2) The Minister may enter into an agreement with a
Minister of another jurisdiction for the purposes
of this section, including an agreement to amend
or revoke any such agreement.
(3) To the extent envisaged by such an agreement
(a) rail safety officers of this jurisdiction
may, in this jurisdiction or the other
jurisdiction, exercise functions conferred
on rail safety officers of the other
jurisdiction by or under the
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corresponding rail safety law of that
other jurisdiction; and
(b) rail safety officers of that other
jurisdiction may, in this jurisdiction or
that other jurisdiction, exercise functions
conferred on rail safety officers by or
under this Act.
(4) Anything done or omitted to be done by a rail
safety officer of this jurisdiction under
subsection (3) is taken to have been done under
this Act as well as under the corresponding rail
safety law.
(5) The regulations may make provision for or with
respect to the exercise of functions under this
section.
(6) Nothing in this section affects the appointment
under section 152 of persons as rail safety
officers for the purposes of this Act.
154. Identification cards for rail safety officers
(1) The Rail Safety Regulator must
(a) issue a rail safety officer with an
identification card; or
(b) designate a card issued to a rail safety
officer by a corresponding Rail Safety
Regulator or by a person, body or
authority (whether or not of this
jurisdiction) as an identification card for
the purposes of this Act.
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(2) The Rail Safety Regulator must not issue an
identification card to a rail safety officer unless
the card displays
(a) the name and signature, and a
photograph, of the officer; and
(b) the name of the Rail Safety Regulator;
and
(c) a statement to the effect that the person
to whom the card is issued is a rail safety
officer.
(3) The Rail Safety Regulator must not designate a
card to be an identification card for the purposes
of this Act unless it displays the matters referred
to in subsection (2)(a) and (c) and the name of
the corresponding Rail Safety Regulator of the
jurisdiction in which the card was issued.
155. Rail safety officer must not exercise functions
without identification card
A rail safety officer must not exercise a function
conferred by or under this Act unless an
identification card has been issued to, or
designated for, the officer by the Rail Safety
Regulator.
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156. Display and production of identification card
(1) This section applies to a rail safety officer who is
exercising, or about to exercise, a function under
this Act.
(2) A rail safety officer must
(a) display his or her identification card if
the officer is not wearing an approved
uniform or badge; or
(b) produce his or her identification card if
requested to do so by a person in relation
to whom the officer is exercising, or is
about to exercise, the function.
(3) If it is not practical for a rail safety officer to
produce his or her identification card on being
requested to do so, the rail safety officer must
produce his or her identification card as soon as
practicable after the request is made.
(4) In this section
"approved", in relation to a uniform or badge
worn by a rail safety officer, means a
uniform or badge approved by the Rail
Safety Regulator.
157. Return of identification cards
A person who has ceased to be a rail safety
officer must not, without reasonable excuse,
refuse, or fail, to return to the Rail Safety
Regulator, within the period specified by the
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Rail Safety Regulator in a request for return of
the card, an identification card issued to the
person by the Rail Safety Regulator.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.
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PART 14 MISCELLANEOUS
Division 1 Confidentiality
158. Confidentiality
(1) This section applies to a person engaged or
previously engaged in the administration of this
Act and, without limiting the foregoing, to
(a) a rail safety officer or a person assisting a
rail safety officer; and
(b) a person authorised by the Rail Safety
Regulator or rail safety officer under a
provision of this Act to do the act or
thing provided for in that provision; and
(c) a person who is or was a delegate of the
Rail Safety Regulator; and
(d) a person who is or was employed by, or
engaged to provide services to or on
behalf of, the Rail Safety Regulator; and
(e) a person who is or was employed by, or
engaged to provide services to, a person
or body engaged to provide services to
the Rail Safety Regulator.
(2) A person to whom this section applies must not
disclose or communicate information obtained
(whether by that person or otherwise) in the
administration of this Act except
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(a) as required or authorised by or under this
or any other Act; or
(b) with the consent of the person from
whom the information was obtained or to
whom the information relates; or
(c) in connection with the administration of
the rail safety law and corresponding rail
safety laws; or
(d) for law enforcement purposes, rail safety
inquiries or public safety; or
(e) to a court or in connection with any
proceedings; or
(f) in accordance with the regulations.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.
(3) Nothing in this section prevents information
being used to enable an Australian Rail Safety
Regulator to accumulate aggregate data and to
enable the Australian Rail Safety Regulator to
authorise use of the aggregate data for the
purposes of research or education.
Division 2 Civil liability
159. Civil liability not affected by Part 2, 4 or 5
(1) Nothing in Part 2, 4 or 5 is to be construed
(a) as conferring a right of action in any civil
proceedings in respect of any
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contravention, whether by act or
omission, of any provisions of that Part;
or
(b) as conferring a defence to an action in
any civil proceedings or as otherwise
affecting a right of action in any civil
proceedings.
(2) Subsection (1) does not affect the extent (if any)
to which a breach of duty imposed by the
regulations is actionable.
160. Exclusion of personal liability
(1) The Minister, the Rail Safety Regulator, a rail
safety officer, an investigator or any authorised
person incurs no civil liability for an act or
omission done or made in good faith and in the
exercise or purported exercise of functions under
this Act.
(2) A liability that would, apart from subsection (1),
attach to the Minister, the Rail Safety Regulator,
a rail safety officer, an investigator or an
authorised person attaches instead to the Crown.
(3) Despite subsection (2), if at the relevant time the
authorised person was, in relation to the exercise
of the power concerned
(a) subject to the control and direction of a
corresponding Rail Safety Regulator, the
liability attaches to the corresponding
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Rail Safety Regulator instead of the
Crown; or
(b) acting in the capacity of an employee of
an employer who is not the Crown, the
liability attaches to the employer instead
of the Crown.
(4) In this section
"authorised person" means any person
authorised by the Rail Safety Regulator
or a rail safety officer under a provision
of this Act to do the act or thing provided
for in that provision.
161. Immunity for reporting unfit rail safety worker
(1) No action may be taken against a health care
professional who, in good faith, reports to
(a) the Rail Safety Regulator; or
(b) a rail transport operator; or
(c) any other person to whom this section
applies who is employed or engaged by
the Rail Safety Regulator or a rail
transport operator
any information which discloses that a person is
unfit to carry out rail safety work or certain types
of rail safety work, or that it may be dangerous
to allow that person to carry out rail safety work
or certain types of rail safety work.
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(2) No action may be taken against a health care
professional who, in good faith, reports
(a) the results of a test or examination
carried out under the rail safety law; or
(b) an opinion formed by that person as a
result of conducting such a test or
examination
to a person referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b) or
(c).
(3) In this section
"health care professional" means a person
who is registered as a medical
practitioner, optometrist or
physiotherapist under an Act.
Division 3 Compliance codes and guidelines
162. Approval of compliance codes and guidelines
(1) For the purpose of providing practical guidance
to persons who have duties or obligations under
the rail safety law, the Minister may make an
order
(a) approving a compliance code; or
(b) approving guidelines.
(2) The Minister may make an order approving the
variation of a compliance code or guidelines or
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revoking the approval of a compliance code or
guidelines.
(3) An order approving a compliance code or
guidelines, or a variation or revocation order,
takes effect when notice of it is published or on a
date specified in the order.
(4) The Minister must ensure that a copy of
(a) each compliance code that is currently
approved; and
(b) guidelines that are currently approved
is or are available for inspection by members of
the public without charge at the office of the Rail
Safety Regulator during normal business hours.
(5) The Rules Publication Act 1953 applies to an
order made under subsection (1).
(6) Section 47 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1931,
apart from subsections (1) and (2) of that
section, applies to an order under this section as
if it were a regulation.
163. Effect of compliance code
A failure to comply with a compliance code or
guidelines does not give rise to any civil or
criminal liability.
Note: A person who complies with a compliance code may,
however, be taken to have complied with this Act (see section 164).
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164. Effect of complying with compliance code
If
(a) a compliance code makes provision for
or in respect of a duty or obligation
imposed by the rail safety law; and
(b) a person complies with the compliance
code to the extent that it makes that
provision
the person is, for the purposes of this Act and the
regulations, taken to have complied with the rail
safety law in relation to that duty or obligation.
Division 4 Other matters
165. Exemptions
(1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette,
exempt from the application of this Act or a
provision of this Act
(a) a person, or a member of a class of
persons, who or which are specified in
the notice; or
(b) a railway, or a class of railways, that is
specified in the notice.
(2) An exemption under subsection (1) may be
granted on conditions specified in the notice.
(3) A person, or a member of a class of persons,
who or which are specified in a notice under
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subsection (1) must not fail to comply with a
condition specified in the notice.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
(4) If a railway, or a class of railways, is specified in
a notice under subsection (1), a rail transport
operator in respect of the railway or a railway of
that class must not fail to comply with a
condition specified in the notice.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 2 000 penalty units;
or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 400 penalty units.
166. Recovery of certain costs
The Rail Safety Regulator may recover as a debt
from a rail transport operator the reasonable
costs of the entry and inspection of railway
infrastructure, rolling stock or railway premises
in respect of which the person is accredited,
other than the costs of an inspection of the
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operations of a rail transport operator under
section 68.
167. Recovery of amounts due
Every fee, charge or other amount of money
payable under the rail safety law may be
recovered by the Rail Safety Regulator as a debt
due to the Crown in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
168. Compliance with conditions of accreditation
If
(a) a condition or restriction to which the
accreditation of a person is subject makes
provision for or in respect of a duty or
obligation imposed by the rail safety law;
and
(b) the accredited person complies with the
condition or restriction to the extent that
it makes that provision
the accredited person is, for the purposes of this
Act and the regulations, taken to have complied
with the rail safety law in relation to that duty or
obligation.
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169. Prescribed persons
A person prescribed for the purposes of this
section must give notice in the prescribed form
and within a prescribed period to a rail transport
operator of the commencement, discontinuation
or completion of prescribed operations or
activities that may adversely affect the safety of
any rail infrastructure or rolling stock of a rail
transport operator.
Penalty: In the case of
(a) a body corporate, a fine not
exceeding 100 penalty units; or
(b) an individual, a fine not
exceeding 20 penalty units.
170. Contracting-out prohibited
A term of any contract or agreement that
purports to exclude, limit or modify the
operation of this Act or of any provision of this
Act is void to the extent that it would otherwise
have effect.
171. Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations for the
purposes of this Act.
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(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1),
the regulations may be made in relation to one or
more of the following:
(a) the refund or waiver of fees for the
purposes of this Act;
(b) forms for the purposes of this Act;
(c) any matter or thing required or permitted
by this Act to be prescribed or necessary
to be prescribed to give effect to this Act.
(3) Regulations made under this Act
(a) may be of general or of specially limited
application; and
(b) may differ according to differences in
time, place or circumstances; and
(c) may require a matter affected by the
regulations to be
(i) in accordance with a specified
standard or specified
requirement; or
(ii) approved by or to the satisfaction
of a specified person or a
specified class of persons; or
(iii) as specified in both
subparagraphs (i) and (ii); and
(d) may apply, adopt or incorporate any
matter contained in any document
whether
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(i) wholly or partially or as amended
by the regulations; or
(ii) as in force at a particular time or
as in force from time to time; and
(e) may confer a discretionary authority or
impose a duty on a specified person or a
specified class of persons; and
(f) may provide, in a specified case or class
of cases, for the exemption of people or
things, or a class of people or things,
from any of the provisions of the
regulations, whether unconditionally or
on specified conditions and either wholly
or to the extent specified; and
(g) may impose a penalty of not more than
200 penalty units for a contravention of
the regulations; and
(h) may provide that an application may be
made to the Magistrates Court
(Administrative Appeals Division) for
the review of a decision made under the
regulations.
(4) The regulations may exempt, or provide for the
exemption of, either absolutely or subject to
conditions, any person, railway, part of a railway
or operation from all or any of the provisions of
the rail safety law.
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172. Administration of Act
Until provision is made in relation to this Act by
order under section 4 of the Administrative
Arrangements Act 1990
(a) the administration of this Act is assigned
to the Minister for Infrastructure; and
(b) the department responsible to that
Minister in relation to the administration
of this Act is the Department of
Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.
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PART 15 TRANSITIONAL
173. Interpretation of this Part
In this Part
"commencement day" means the day on
which the Rail Safety Act 1997 is
repealed by this Act;
"former Act" means the Rail Safety Act 1997,
as in force immediately before the
commencement day.
174. Saving of appointment of Rail Safety Regulator
The person who is, immediately before the
commencement day, the Administrating
Authority for the purposes of the former Act, is
to be taken to be the Rail Safety Regulator
appointed under section 147 of this Act, until the
appointment is revoked under this Act or the
person ceases to be a State Service officer or
State Service employee.
175. Saving of accreditation of persons under former Act
(1) An accreditation as an owner or operator of a
railway that was, immediately before the
commencement day, held by a person under the
former Act and that was not, on that day,
suspended, is to be taken to be, on and from that
day, an accreditation as a railway operator in
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respect of the railway granted under section 22
to the person, but may be suspended or revoked
under this Act.
(2) If the accreditation to which subsection (1)
applies was granted under the former Act for a
period of 12 months or less, the accreditation
expires at the end of the period.
(3) Any accreditation under the former Act remains
subject to the conditions on which it was granted
under that Act but those conditions may be
varied, amended, replaced or revoked under this
Act.
(4) If, in the calendar year in which a person was
required under the former Act to pay the annual
fee, the person had paid that fee, the person is
not liable in the calendar year to pay the annual
fee otherwise payable under this Act.
(5) An application for accreditation that had been
made, but not determined, under the former Act
before the commencement day is to be taken to
have been made under section 18 of this Act.
(6) An application for variation of an accreditation
that had been made, but not determined, under
the former Act before the commencement day is
to be taken to have been made under section 33
of this Act.
(7) A person who was, immediately before the
commencement day, exempted under the former
Act from the requirement under that Act to hold
accreditation as a railway operator or railway
owner, is exempted from section 15 of this Act
233
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 176 Part 15 Transitional
until the expiry of the period of 6 months after
the commencement day.
176. Registration of private sidings
A private siding that was registered under the
former Act before the commencement day is to
be taken, on and from the commencement day,
to have been registered under section 16(2) of
this Act.
177. Applications and administrative acts and decisions
(1) If an application had been made by a person
under section 20(1) of the former Act but had
not been determined under the former Act
immediately before the commencement day
(a) the person is taken to be an eligible
person under section 113; and
(b) the decision to which the application
relates is taken to be a reviewable
decision for the purposes of Part 10 that
was made on the commencement day;
and
(c) the application is taken to be an
application for review made under
section 114 on the commencement day.
(2) Despite the repeal of the former Act by this Act,
the Magistrates Court (Administrative Appeals
Division) may continue to hear and determine an
234
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 15 Transitional s. 177
application that was made to it under section
20(2) of the former Act before the
commencement day but not determined by it
before that day, as if the application had been
made to that court under section 115.
(3) Despite the repeal of the former Act by this Act,
if, before the commencement day
(a) a direction was given under section
26(1), 28(2) or 30(2), 31(1) or 32(1) of
the former Act or a requirement was
imposed under section 28(4) of the
former Act; and
(b) the direction or requirement has not been
complied with before the commencement
day
the direction or requirement continues in force,
and a failure to comply with it may be
prosecuted, as if the section of the former Act
under which it were made had continued in force
after the commencement day.
(4) A requirement imposed, before the
commencement day, under section 33(3), 34(1)
or 35(1) of the former Act and not complied with
before that day, is to be taken to be a
requirement imposed under section 66(1),
section 67 or section 65 of this Act, respectively.
(5) An investigator appointed under section 37 of
the former Act who has commenced but not
completed an inquiry under Part 5 of the former
Act may continue to conduct, and complete, the
inquiry and provide a report in relation to it to
235
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 178 Part 15 Transitional
the Minister, as if that Part of the former Act had
not been repealed.
178. Application of provisions in respect of existing
operators
(1) In this section
"existing operator" means a person
(a) who is, by virtue of the operation
of section 175(1), a person who is
taken to be accredited as a
railway operator; and
(b) whose accreditation has not been
revoked.
(2) Section 41 and section 47 do not apply to, and in
relation to, an existing operator until 12 months
after the day on which this section commences.
(3) Until 12 months after the day on which this
section commences, an existing operator must
comply with the safety management plan as
submitted and revised by the operator, before
this section commences, under section 9 of the
former Act.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 500 penalty units.
(4) Sections 48, 49 and 50 and section 60 do not
apply to, and in relation to, an existing operator
until 3 years after the day on which this section
commences.
236
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 16 Abt Railway Development Act 1999 Amended s. 179
PART 16 ABT RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT ACT 1999
AMENDED
179. Principal Act
In this Part, the Abt Railway Development Act
1999* is referred to as the Principal Act.
180. Section 30 repealed
Section 30 of the Principal Act is repealed.
*No. 41 of 1999
237
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 181 Part 17 Emu Bay Railway (Operation and Acquisition) Act 2009
Amended
PART 17 EMU BAY RAILWAY (OPERATION AND
ACQUISITION) ACT 2009 AMENDED
181. Principal Act
In this Part, the Emu Bay Railway (Operation
and Acquisition) Act 2009* is referred to as the
Principal Act.
182. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
Section 3(1) of the Principal Act is amended by
omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997" from paragraph
(b) of the definition of "rail infrastructure and
related assets" and substituting "Rail Safety Act
2009".
183. Section 4 amended (Authority of PN Tas
(Operations) Pty Limited to operate rail business on
Emu Bay Railway)
Section 4(3)(a) of the Principal Act is amended
by omitting "section 6 of the Rail Safety Act
1997" and substituting "section 15 of the Rail
Safety Act 2009".
*No. 44 of 2009
238
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 18 Local Government Act 1993 Amended s. 184
PART 18 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993
AMENDED
184. Principal Act
In this Part, the Local Government Act 1993* is
referred to as the Principal Act.
185. Section 87 amended (Exemption from rates)
Section 87(1)(b)(xiv) of the Principal Act is
amended by omitting "the Rail Safety Act 1997"
and substituting "the Rail Safety Act 2009".
*No. 95 of 1993
239
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 186 Part 19 Police Offences Act 1935 Amended
PART 19 POLICE OFFENCES ACT 1935 AMENDED
186. Principal Act
In this Part, the Police Offences Act 1935* is
referred to as the Principal Act.
187. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
Section 3(1) of the Principal Act is amended by
omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997" from the
definition of "public place" and substituting
"Rail Safety Act 2009".
*No. 44 of 1935
240
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 20 Rail Company Act 2009 Amended s. 188
PART 20 RAIL COMPANY ACT 2009 AMENDED
188. Principal Act
In this Part, the Rail Company Act 2009* is
referred to as the Principal Act.
189. Section 4 amended (Interpretation)
Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by
omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997" from paragraph
(b) of the definition of "rail infrastructure and
related assets" and substituting "Rail Safety Act
2009".
*No. 46 of 2009
241
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 190 Part 21 Rail Infrastructure Act 2007 Amended
PART 21 RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE ACT 2007
AMENDED
190. Principal Act
In this Part, the Rail Infrastructure Act 2007* is
referred to as the Principal Act.
191. Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
Section 3(1) of the Principal Act is amended as
follows:
(a) by omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997" from
paragraph (b) of the definition of
"railway emergency" and substituting
"Rail Safety Act 2009";
(b) by omitting the definition of "track" and
substituting the following definition:
"track" means the combination of
rails, rail connectors, sleepers,
ballast, points and crossings (or
substitute devices if used);
(c) by omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997" from
the definition of "train" and substituting
"Rail Safety Act 2009".
*No. 36 of 2007
242
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 21 Rail Infrastructure Act 2007 Amended s. 192
192. Section 10 repealed
Section 10 of the Principal Act is repealed.
243
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
s. 193 Part 22 Legislation repealed and rescinded
PART 22 LEGISLATION REPEALED AND
RESCINDED
193. Legislation repealed
The legislation specified in Schedule 1 is
repealed.
194. Legislation rescinded
The legislation specified in Schedule 2 is
rescinded.
244
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
Part 23 Further Consequential Amendments s. 195
PART 23 FURTHER CONSEQUENTIAL
AMENDMENTS
195. Amendment of Emu Bay Railway (Operation and
Acquisition) Act 2009
Item 1 in Schedule 1 to the Emu Bay Railway
(Operation and Acquisition) Act 2009 is
amended by omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997"
from proposed section 7A(2) of the Boundary
Fences Act 1908 and substituting "Rail Safety
Act 2009".
196. Amendment of Boundary Fences Act 1908
Section 7A(2) of the Boundary Fences Act 1908
is amended by omitting "Rail Safety Act 1997"
and substituting "Rail Safety Act 2009".
245
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
sch. 1
SCHEDULE 1 LEGISLATION REPEALED
Section 193
Rail Safety Act 1997 (No. 24 of 1997)
246
Rail Safety Act 2009
Act No. of
sch. 2
SCHEDULE 2 LEGISLATION RESCINDED
Section 194
Rail Safety Regulations 1999 (No. 105 of 1999)
Government Printer, Tasmania 247