Home > For Health Professionals > Education and Prevention > Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety

Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety

2012 Review of the Act 1998

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 is a national scheme to protect the health and safety of people, and to protect the environment, from the harmful effects of radiation.

In this section:

Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety

2012 Review of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (ARPANS Act)
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

2012 Review of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (ARPANS Act)

Background
In 1997, the Commonwealth Government announced that it would establish the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), as a new regulatory body with underpinning legislation, known as the ARPANS Act 1998.

The objective of the ARPANS Act is of ongoing relevance and importance. It deals with both safety and security issues related to radiation in areas of medical and industrial applications and continues to deal with significant and ongoing risks to the staff of government agencies and to the community in general.

There has been no review of the ARPANS Act since the introduction in 1998. In addition, there have been a number of recent events that are likely to impact on ARPANSA’s future role, including:

• the nuclear incident following the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, which has created a push to improve nuclear safety internationally; and
• the proposed National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010.

It is appropriate that the ARPANS Act now be reviewed to ascertain whether the powers that were given then are adequate for it to carry out its functions, and if not, how the legislation should be updated.

Terms of Reference

The review will consider and report on the scope and operation of the ARPANS Act and the legal capacity of ARPANSA to carry out the functions outlined in the ARPANS Act. It will make recommendations and/or suggestions it considers appropriate on the questions set out below including amendments, if any, that should be made to the ARPANS Act.

1. Whether the objects of the Act are being achieved, whether they continue to be appropriate and whether the legislative framework provided is appropriate to achieve the objects of the Act.
2. Whether the regulatory powers and reporting responsibilities in the Act facilitate effective and proportionate compliance by licence holders and enforcement of obligations imposed on them.
3. Whether the monitoring and reporting of the operations of ARPANSA is effective and appropriate in the context of Parliamentary reporting requirements.

Final Report
Review of the Australian Radiaton Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (PDF 421 KB)

Review of the Aust Radiation 1998 (Word 338 KB)

top of page

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), within the Health and Ageing Portfolio, is a Federal Government agency charged under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (ARPANS Act 1998) with responsibility for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of radiation. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health has executive responsibility for ARPANSA. top of page