ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is a Federal Government agency charged under the ARPANS Act 1998 with responsibility for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of radiation (ionising and non-ionising). We do this by:

• Building and maintaining expertise in measurement of radiation and assessment of health impacts
• Advising the Government and others, and providing information to the public, on issues related to radiation protection and nuclear safety;
• Using our licensing powers and working with Commonwealth entities to ensure the safety of the radiation facilities and sources operated by them;
• Leading the development of standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other relevant material to support radiation protection and nuclear safety throughout Australia;
• Playing a leading role in the activities of relevant national and international organisations, representing the interests of ARPANSA and Australia;
• Offering high quality scientific services;
• Undertaking research and development in radiation protection and nuclear safety;
• Building strategic partnerships, especially with the States and relevant academic and research organisations and;
• Being honest and open in our work and accountable to the public and their elected representatives.

Background

Although significant activities involving radiation sources and radioactive material are undertaken within the Commonwealth Government's jurisdiction, prior to 1998 there was no legislation which regulated Commonwealth radiation sources and practices nationally. Under previous arrangements:

• the Australian Radiation Laboratory (ARL) was responsible for providing advice to Government and the community on the health effects of radiation, and for undertaking research and providing services in this area (see The Australian Radiation Laboratory: A Concise History 1929-1979 (PDF 3,358kb))
• the Nuclear Safety Bureau (NSB) was responsible for regulating the HIFAR and Moata research reactors at Lucas Heights in Sydney (see NSB's Annual and Quarterly Reports).

In 1997, the Federal Government announced that it would combine these two organisations and establish ARPANSA, as a new regulatory body with underpinning legislation.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANS) Act 1998

The ARPANS Bill was passed by both houses on Thursday 10th December 1998.

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