The Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) aims for a seamless and coordinated national approach to rail safety regulation in Australia.
We undertake periodic reviews the Rail Safety National Law.
Click here to read the final report on the 2024 targeted review of the Rail Safety National Law.
In December 2009 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to establish a national rail safety regulator and develop a rail safety national law that the rail safety regulator would administer.
We developed the RSNL, based on the National Transport Commission Model Rail Safety Bill (2007) and Model Regulations (Model Law). The RSNL also addressed areas where states and territories had varied from the model bill and regulations.
Following an extensive consultation period with industry, governments and unions, a final version of the National Law was submitted to and approved by the transport ministers in November 2011.
The RSNL was first enacted in South Australia in 2012. All other states and territories have either adopted the RSNL or passed legislation that models it.
For the current laws and regulations, visit the South Australia Legislation website.