Appendix F – List of hearings and witnesses

Appendix F – List of hearings and witnesses

A prime goal of regulation by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is to provide assurance to the public and stakeholders about the safe management of the radiation and nuclear activities of the Australian Government.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (the Act) and its associated regulations clearly define the responsibilities of licence holders to meet certain conditions relating to radiation and nuclear safety.

The CEO of ARPANSA is responsible for ensuring that Australian Government licence holders properly discharge their responsibilities under the Act. This is achieved by:

  • establishing and publishing clear regulatory requirements, monitoring and enforcing compliance, and appropriately supporting licence holders to improve safety
  • making independent, objective, informed and consistent regulatory decisions
  • operating cost-effectively by basing regulatory action on the level of risk to people and the environment
  • working transparently, with strong accountability to the Australian Government, Parliament and the public.

 

Establishing and publishing clear regulatory requirements and monitoring and enforcing compliance, and appropriately supporting licence holders to improve safety

ARPANSA:

  • Makes recommendations, policies, codes and standards in accordance with the mechanisms established by the Act and regulations, including through consultation with stakeholders and the general public.
  • Promotes compliance with regulatory requirements and improvements in safety through education and support of licence holders.
  • Maintains an accurate, detailed and current case‑management system.
  • Monitors the compliance of licence holders with the requirements of the Act and regulations through a program of inspections and regular reporting.
  • Reviews incidents and licence breaches reported by licence holders to ensure that lessons are learned and circulated to other licence holders.

Making independent, objective and informed regulatory decisions on a consistent basis

ARPANSA:

  • Undertakes a timely and objective assessment of information provided by licence holders or applicants for licences and through public submissions.
  • Ensures that there is an adequate level of competence available within ARPANSA and through networks of contacts to inform the assessment process.
  • Makes transparent regulatory decisions in accordance with the Act and regulations and on a consistent basis, using a risk‑based approach.
  • Cooperates with other Australian jurisdictions to improve ARPANSA’s regulatory practices and to contribute to improved regulatory processes adopted by other radiation regulators and interacts with overseas radiation protection and nuclear safety regulators as appropriate.

Operating in a cost-effective manner, basing regulatory action on the level of risk to people and the environment

ARPANSA:

  • Regulates licence holders and activities that are subject to the Act and regulations in a manner that is consistent with the risk posed by the regulated activity as conducted by the licence holder.
  • Makes regulatory decisions and allocates regulatory and compliance resources in a way that takes potential risks into account.
  • Ensures that the costs of regulation are measured and allocated to licence holders on a fair and equitable basis and that there are regular reviews to ensure that regulatory costs are appropriate.
  • Conducts the regulatory process in an effective and efficient manner and within a quality management system.
  • Establishes performance indicators for the regulatory process in consultation with stakeholders and reports achievement against priorities for these performance indicators.
  • Receives, acts and reports upon stakeholder feedback.

Working in a transparent manner with strong accountability to the Australian Government, Parliament and the public

ARPANSA:

  • Makes timely and effective reports of ARPANSA’s regulatory performance to the minister, the parliament, and the public.
  • Seeks and takes into account views from the Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council, the Nuclear Safety Committee and the Radiation Health Committee on matters relevant to regulatory decisions.
  • Uses the ARPANSA website and other communication tools to inform stakeholders and the public of ARPANSA’s regulatory activities.
  • Seeks public submissions as required under the Act and regulations and takes these into account in regulatory decision-making.

 

November 2005

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