All persons involved in dangerous goods transport have a general duty to minimise risks to public safety, property, and the environment; aggravated offences apply where a breach is reckless or results in serious harm.

Anyone involved in a dangerous goods transport incident must notify the Authority; there is also a duty to preserve the incident site until an inspector authorises otherwise.

Corporate officers can be held personally liable if they fail to exercise due diligence to prevent their company from breaching dangerous goods transport duties.

Inspectors have powers to enter vehicles and vessels, take samples, issue improvement and prohibition notices, recover cleanup costs, and place a statutory charge on land for unpaid amounts.

The Governor in Council can declare substances to be dangerous goods or high-consequence dangerous goods (HCDG) and impose special transport conditions for public safety.

Everyone involved in transporting dangerous goods by road, rail, or waterway must hold a licence or permit issued by the Authority; drivers, vehicles, prime contractors, and consignors are all covered and transporting without a licence is an offence.