Mixed method research to inform regulatory reform: the case of rail environmental regulation

For the Australian rail industry environmental regulation is a regulatory hotspot. It initiated a project to investigate the case for rail environmental regulatory reform. Research was undertaken in a integrated three-phase research involving mixed methodologies, including in-depth interviewing of 36 rail and government stakeholders across Australia. This paper reports the key findings from each phase. The discussion follows a three-step framework for regulatory reform as a tool to i) map and assess existing regulatory regimes and ii)_develop sound reform options. The quantitative and qualitative findings from all three research phases suggest that the time is ripe for a more co-regulatory approach to rail environmental regulation. The paper is of interest to managers and regulators striving for more sustainable regulatory approaches.