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This stage of the consultation is now CLOSED.

The new confidential reporting regulations are in the process of being made, with persons or organisations that made submissions informed. Please refer back to the main consultation page for information about the proposed response to the consultation on mandatory reporting.

The ATSB is inviting comments on proposed regulatory changes covering mandatory reporting of accidents and incidents and confidential reporting of safety concerns in Australia.

Your comments are sought by Friday, 27 July 2012.

Mandatory Reporting

There are two changes proposed to mandatory reporting of accidents and incidents.

Firstly, it is proposed to improve the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA's) access to the information contained in notifications reported in accordance with the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act). Providing more open access to the regulator will be in line with international practice. CASA will be in a better position to regulate aviation safety with its enhanced knowledge of the hazards and risks encountered by the industry.

Secondly, it is proposed to revise the existing list of accidents and incidents that need to be reported as immediately reportable and routinely reportable matters. A less prescriptive approach is used in draft legislation. The new reporting requirements will be based on an assessment of the risk of death, injury and damage involved with each incident.

Confidential Reporting (REPCON)

Draft confidential reporting regulations are included in the consultation package. These regulations will replace the existing aviation REPCON regulations creating a multi-modal confidential reporting scheme for the aviation, maritime and rail industries. The significance of making the scheme multi-modal will be its capacity to assist all three industries to learn from reports of safety concerns that contain transferable lessons.

Why we need mandatory and confidential reporting

The information we get from mandatory and confidential reporting helps us determine whether we need to investigate a safety concern, undertake research and identify trends of emerging hazards and risks. This gives us valuable insight into what needs to be done to improve the safety system. Mandatory and confidential reporting complements the use of other hazard and risk identification and management tools used by the industry and the regulator. Ultimately, a report now can save lives and prevent injuries in the future.

Providing feedback

Links to the documents below provide further information about the proposed changes.
Consultation Paper

For a full overview of the proposed changes go to:

Attachment A: Draft Mandatory Reporting Regulations

Attachment B: Draft Confidential Reporting Regulations

You can email your responses to:

regulation.consultation@atsb.gov.au for comments on mandatory reporting.

repconreform@atsb.gov.au for comments on confidential reporting.

You can also post your comments to:

Reporting and Notifications
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
PO Box 967
Civic Square ACT 2608

If you have any questions or would like a hard copy of the consultation package, please call the manager of reporting and notifications 1800 011 034.