The National Transport Commission (NTC) has released a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement to progress legislative reforms aimed at improving safety, productivity and competitiveness across Australia’s rail networks.
The C-RIS focusses on 12 legislative reforms recommended in the 2024 review of Australia’s Rail Safety National Law (RSNL) to:
- better align safety and productivity
- promote innovation and interoperability
- provide greater transparency and accountability
- address national barriers in areas such as technology approvals and skills.
The 12 proposed reforms are designed to build interoperability and greater transparency directly into the law. They include new governance arrangements to support long-term reform, reduce operational costs, clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen interface arrangements to manage risk and, ultimately, enable better safety outcomes across the rail sector.
The reforms align with the National Rail Action Plan – a four-year initiative bringing together governments and industry to reduce differences across networks, so rail can operate as one national system that meets the needs of Australia’s growing cities, regions and ports.
Three approaches to reform
The C-RIS outlines three broad approaches to achieve the reform objectives. It analyses the key pros, cons, and risks of each approach with further detail to be developed through consultation and feedback.
“Legislative mechanisms are a key lever available to improve interoperability outcomes,” NTC CEO Michael Hopkins said. “
“They’ll help us to advance the landmark reforms agreed by ministers last August, including the adoption of the European Train Control System or ETCS as the digital signalling standard for the National Network for Interoperability (NNI), and establishment of a strengthened Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board, now Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation (ARISO), as the industry-led body for setting technical standards.
“The C-RIS looks at a range of regulatory options and proposes a flexible, pragmatic approach focusing on the least intrusive option that still delivers net benefits while balancing safety, productivity, and costs.”
The NTC is seeking feedback from across the rail industry, governments, unions and interested stakeholders on the proposed options, their impacts and how they should be implemented.
Submissions will directly inform the development of the Decision RIS and final recommendations to ministers, shaping the future of Australia’s rail system.
The consultation documents and information on how to make a submission can be found here Rail Safety National Law | National Transport Commission.
Consultation is now open. The closing date for submissions is Monday 4 May 2026.
For more information visit the NTC website.
An information session will be held at 1pm on Thursday 26 February 2026. This will provide an overview of the proposed options, explain the consultation process and how you can provide feedback.
You can register for the session here.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to the team at enquiries@ntc.gov.au.If you have any questions, contact the NTC at enquiries@ntc.gov.au.
