MINUTES
Date:	18 November 2015	
Time:	9:30 am to 2:35 pm	
Location:	Garden Terrace 2 Room, Stamford Plaza, Cnr Robey & O’Riordan Streets, Mascot	
Secretariat:	John Ward	
Scribe:	Meaghan Partridge assisted by Diane Harrison	
Members:	Dr Roslyn Drummond (Chair); Carl-Magnus Larsson (CEO of ARPANSA), Mr Keith Baldry (SA);  Mr Ross Bevan (ACT); Professor Brad Cassels (VIC); Mr Simon Critchley (QLD); Mr Len Potapof (NSW);  Mr Nehal Ahmed (NT); Dr Stephen Newbery (TAS); Dr Peter Karamoskos (Public  Representative); Dr Bruce Hocking (Member); Mr Robert Lyon (Nuclear Safety Committee Representative)	
Apologies:	Leif Dahlskog (WA)	
Observers:	Stephen Solomon (Chief Radiation Health Scientist); Jack Dillich (Chief Inspector); Ivan Williams (Acting Chief Medical Radiation Scientist)	
Invitees:	Marcus Grzechnik (Senior Scientist)	

	1.	INTRODUCTION & STANDING ITEMS		

Item 1.1	Welcome & Introduction	Chair	
The Chair welcomed those present, particularly new members Mr Nehal Ahmed and Dr Stephen Newbery. Retiring members Dr Barbara Shields and Mr Russell Robinson were acknowledged for their long standing service and commitment. The Chair wished them well for the future.
Item 1.2	Previous Minutes	Chair	
The minutes from the previous meeting held on 24 June 2015 were confirmed out of session.  There were no further comments.
Item 1.3	Action List & Business Arising	Chair	
Action 2 from the June meeting and Action 4 from November 2014 remain open; Item 5 from the March meeting was deferred until the next meeting. 
Item 1.4	Correspondence	Chair	
The Committee noted the following correspondence: 
1.	From NSW Radiation Advisory Council raising concerns about potential bypass of radiation assessments in research proposals.  The Committee agreed this was a matter for the respective ethics committees. 
ACTION 1:  Chair to respond to NSW Radiation Advisory Council (CI/Chair)
2.	From Dr Barbara Shields advising of her retirement.  
ACTION 2: Send letter of appreciation from RHC to Barbara and Russell (CI/Chair)
3.	To Dr Barbara Shields and Mr Russell Robinson from ARPANSA
4.	To ACT Health regarding Regulatory Expectations  
Item 1.5	Public Interest Issues	Peter Karamoskos	
There is some confusion among the public that the SA Royal Commission and the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF) are separate issues.  Some members of the public feel that the process for the NRWMF has not been transparent. 
Item 1.6	Conflict of Interest Declarations		
Nil
Item 1.7	Radiation Health & Safety Advisory Council (RH&SAC)	Carl-Magnus Larsson	
Minutes from the July 2015 meeting were noted.  Dr Larsson provided a summary of the November meeting; matters discussed included the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility; paediatric doses from diagnostic imaging; uncertainties in decision making; reference levels in emergency situations; and ARPANSA’s communication style. 
Item 1.8	Nuclear Safety Committee (NSC)	Robert Lyon	
Mr Lyon provided a summary of the NSC meeting held on 30 October 2015. Items considered included changes to the ARPANS Act; developments on the SA Royal Commission; the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility project; adoption of trusted international standards; Regulatory Delivery Model; and a summary of ARPANSA’s oversight of ANSTO’s major licences.  
Dr Karamoskos was congratulated on his appointment as the RHC representative on the NSC.
Item 2.1	2018 IRRS Mission to Australia 	Carl-Magnus Larsson	
ARPANSA is continuing its planning for the mission. There has been moderate acceptance from some jurisdictions while others have declined. Dr Larsson appealed to WA and NT for a response as soon as possible. He indicated willingness to provide assistance with resources where this may be an impediment. The Chair encouraged all jurisdictions to, as relevant, reconsider their position. State and Territory representatives were asked to provide details of the appropriate contact within their jurisdiction.  
ACTION 3: Provide contact details for appropriate decision-maker by end of year (S&T Members) 
ACTION 4:  ARPANSA to write to jurisdictions seeking co-operation (CEO/CI)

  Item 2.2	Trusted International Standards	Peter Colgan 	
The Committee noted the results of the Trusted International Standards Study and ARPANSA’s intention to implement the resulting recommendations.  The Committee agreed to the new structure and format for RPS publications in the radiation protection area covered under GSR-Part 3. In summary, ARPANSA will, when relevant and appropriate, provide hyperlinks to the IAEA Safety Requirements for all GSR and SSR publications, with the exception of GSR-Part 3, where ARPANSA will work closely with the Committee to directly extract the safety ‘Requirements’ as the basis for three RPS Codes of particular relevance to radiation protection in Australia, namely:
•	Planned Exposure Code
•	Existing Exposure Code
•	Medical Exposure Code
For the previously planned Emergency Exposure Code, the Australian content will now be incorporated into the preamble to the newly published GSR-Part 7, in a document similar to the Transport Code (RPS C-2).  
Early involvement in the development and review of international documents was seen as essential.  
There was discussion about how this new approach sits with current COAG processes and OBPR requirements.  Members agreed that any barriers should be identified and addressed. 
ACTION 5: Draft issues paper identifying barriers and proposing changes to current processes where required (RA)

Item 2.3	Plan for Withdrawal of RHS Publications	Diane Harrison 	
The Committee noted the documents nominated to replace the remaining RHS publications and the status of their development. There was in-principle agreement to withdraw publications when a replacement is published.  The Committee agree to the immediate withdrawal of RHS 34.  
Members were encouraged to take advantage of an additional opportunity to comment on IAEA drafts DS419 and DS420.  The comment period is expected to be short, probably by mid-January 2016; this will confirmed. 
ACTION 6: Advise members of comment period for DS419 & DS420 (RA)
Item 2.3.1	Adequacy of Definition in ICNIRP 2010	Bruce Hocking 	
While it was acknowledged that the ICNIRP standard provides sufficient protection for pregnant workers, it was noted that the reference is somewhat buried in the glossary.
Members agreed the need to clarify the definition of ‘occupational exposure’ to exclude persons incidentally exposed as a result of their employment.  
ACTION 7: Clarify definition of ‘occupational exposure’ (out of session) & post on website (BH/BC/SS/RA)

Item 3.1	Project Update 	Project Managers	
Revision of RPS 14		PM: S Critchley	
A further meeting with the consultant is planned prior to the end of the year. The draft will need to be revised consistent with the new style of code agreed under Item 2.2.  
ACTION 8: Draft to be tabled at next meeting (SC/PM)
Emergency Code	PM: B Cassels	
As a result of the decision taken under Item 2.2, a revised project plan is required. 
ACTION 9: Revise project plan and circulate out of session (BC/MG)
Existing Exposure Code	PM: K Baldry	
As a result of the decision taken under Item 2.2, a revised project plan is required.
ACTION 10: Revise project plan and circulate out of session (KB/RT)
Management Systems & Safety Culture 	PM: R Lyon 	
As a result of the decision taken under Item 2.2, DS456 will be adopted by reference, with a preamble to include information on holistic safety and graded approach. 

IPLs & Lasers	PM: S Critchley
A large number of comments received during the public consultation are being progressively addressed.

User Disposal	PM: B Shields	
Amendment 7 of the NDRP was endorsed by AHMAC in July 2015. Late comment from WA proposed an amendment to the definition of ‘landfill’ which will be circulated to regulators out of session for agreement within a month. 

ACTION 11:  Circulate proposed definition of landfill to regulators for short comment period (RA)
Item 3.2	Planned Exposure Code (PEC)	Keith Baldry	
The Committee noted the updated PEC and the comments resolution table, including the fundamental policy implications of jurisdictional comments and the recent Government directive towards relying on Trusted International Standards (as per Agenda Item 2.2).  
The Committee noted the new ‘Concept Draft’ of the PEC that more closely reflects GSR-Part 3 and agreed to further develop it to incorporate public comments, and to update the approval process following advice from the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). 
The new draft appears to address most of the concerns, but is significantly different to that on which the preliminary analysis was based. ARPANSA will seek advice from the OBPR.  
Regulators were encouraged to promote the draft in their jurisdiction so that the collective view of the jurisdiction is represented.  
ACTION 12: Updated draft to be tabled at next meeting (KB/RHS)
ACTION 13: Seek advice from OBPR on revised draft (KD/RA)
Item 3.3	Radiation Protection of the Environment	Brad Cassels/Marcus Grzechnik	
The Committee approved publication of the guide.  RHSAC had already endorsed the draft at their meeting in early November. 
ACTION 14: Arrange publication of the Guide (MG/RA)
Item 3.4	RPS 3 Schedule 5	Peter Colgan/Ken Karipidis	
The Committee considered the changes made in response to comments from the Tasmanian Radiation Advisory Council and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), and agreed to the proposed amendment of Schedule 5 of RPS3. A preliminary assessment must now be prepared for the OBPR. 
ACTION 15: Complete preliminary assessment and submit to OBPR (KK/RA)

Item 3.5	DEXA	Ivan Williams	
There was some discussion about the increasing use of DEXA scans in the fitness and lifestyle industry without medical justification.  It was noted that the units are registered/licensed under existing regulatory frameworks and although effective doses are low, it is possible that the public are unaware of the radiation exposure.  It was also noted that non-ionising radiation alternatives exist for examining body composition. 
The Committee does not support the use of DEXA for non-medical purposes. 
 
ACTION 16: Draft a statement on the use of DEXA for non-medical purposes (MRS)

Item 4.1	Changes to ARPANS Act		
The 2nd Reading Speech and Explanatory Memorandum were taken as read.  	
Item 4.2	International Liaison		
Reports for meetings of RASSC (June 2015), WASSC (June 2015), TRANSC (July 2015) and WHO (April/May 2015) were taken as read. 
Item 4.3	International publications & other items of interest		
The Committee noted recently released documents: ICRP 130 and Minimum qualifications for diagnostic radiology services – Post Implementation Review.
Item 4.4	Public Interest in RPS/RHS Publications		
The Committee noted the download statistics for RPS/RHS publications from June 2015 – November 2015. 

Item 5.1	Any Other Business	Chair	
1.	A workshop on the Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) held on 17 November proposed ACDS requirements as a licence condition for linear accelerators in the NDRP. A condition will be drafted for consideration by members. 
ACTION 17:  Circulate draft licence condition for consideration out of session (BC)
2.	There are public health issues associated with labelling and mislabelling of imported lasers and laser pointers; many of these items do not comply with the Australian Standard. Tasmania already has warnings on its website and members agreed these could be used as the basis for a consistent form of warning from all jurisdictions. ARPANSA will communicate with Customs regarding importations of lasers and prepare an issues paper.
ACTION 18: Prepare discussion paper on laser issues (RHS)

Item 5.2	Next Meeting	Chair	

Next meeting	9 or 23 March 2016 – to be confirmed with distribution of minutes	
Close	2:35 pm