All changes to the Rail Safety National Law Act and Regulations are approved by the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting, which comprises each state/territory transport Minister.

Changes to the regulations are made by the South Australian Governor and published on the NSW Legislative website, in accordance with section 265 of the Rail Safety National Law and Part 6A of the Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW).

Links to the current Act and regulations as they apply in each state/territory are on our Rail Safety National Law & related legislation page.

Commencement date Summary of the changes Detailed changes
1 July 2022 New reporting requirements in line with the National Rail Safety Data Strategy Rail Safety National Law National Regulations (Reporting Requirements) Amendment Regulations 2022 | South Australian Legislation
Rail Safety National Law (WA) Amendment Regulations 2022
1 July 2022 Variable fee rates and major project fees 2021-22 Minor amendment to regulation 37. Rail Safety National Law National Regulations (Fees and FOI) Amendment Regulations 2022 (p1922)

Commencement dateSummary of the changesDetailed changes
1 November 2021 - ActNew section 128a clarifies when a worker is deemed to be carrying out rail safety work for the purposes of drug and alcohol offences, being when a worker has arrived at their place of work and signed in to undertake rail safety work, or is otherwise on duty.Rail Safety National Law (South Australia) (Rail Safety Work) Amendment Bill 2020

Proclamation gazette (p3752)
1 July 2021 - RegulationsVariable fee rates and major project fees 2021-22Rail Safety National Law National Regulations (Fees) Variation Regulations 2021 (p2280)
24 May 2021- RegulationsMinor changes to regulation 37 (1a) to clarify that any document provided in accordance with section 20, or that contains any part of a train safety recording, will be exempt from being compelled under the Freedom of Information Act.Rail Safety National Law National Regulations (Modification of FOI Act) Variation Regulations 2021

Commencement date Summary of the changes Detailed changes
1 July 2020 - Act Changes to section 4 and 8(1) Rail Safety National Law (South Australia) (Rail Safety Work) Amendment Act 2020*
1 July 2020 - regulations Variable fee rates for 2020-21

Update to the reference to the Northern Territory gazette to ensure regulation 25 remains current as changes are gazetted.

Minor change to clarify that immediate verbal reports of category A occurrences must be reported to ONRSR (current arrangement).
Rail Safety National Law National Regulations (Fees and Other Measures) Variation Regulations 2020

Commencement date Summary of the changes Detailed changes
2 December 2019 Regulation 7 (1) (e) removed (excluded Victorian railways) RSNL National Regulations (Application of Law) Variation Regulations 2019*
1 July 2019 – Act Changes to the Rail Safety National Law (2019).pdf RSNL (South Australia) (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2019*
1 July 2019 – Regulations RSNL National Regulations Variation Regulation 2019* RSNL National Regulations (Fees) Variation Regulation 2019

* Commencement of the changes in Western Australia is subject to a separate parliamentary process and timing. Further information will be provided when known.

Updated and new ONRSR documents from 1 July 2020

These documents have been updated as a result of legislative changes. Note that documents may have been updated further since the legislation commenced.

Document titleDetails of changes

Identifying rail safety work under the RSNL Guideline

Updated to reflect legislative changes to section 4 and 8 of the RSNL.


Last updated: Aug 1, 2022, 1:55:31 PM