Chief of The Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN, ANNPSR Director-General, Mr Michael Drake, and Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Greg Moriarty at the launch of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator (ANNPSR) in Canberra on Friday 31 October, 2025. (Photo Credit: Department of Defence / Nicholas Haggarty).
The Albanese Government has delivered a key milestone in Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine program with the establishment of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator. The new statutory Agency is responsible for the effective regulatory oversight of Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion capabilities, providing independent assurance that the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection are upheld.
The Albanese Government is pleased to announce Mr Michael Drake as the inaugural Director-General of the new regulatory Agency. Mr Drake brings to the role technical expertise and a decade of maritime regulation experience, including most recently as the Executive Director of Operations with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and before that 15 years in the Royal Australian Navy where he served primarily in Australia’s Collins class submarines.
Commencing with over 70 trained staff, the new Agency has been working closely with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Commonwealth authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, to ensure a smooth transition of regulatory oversight. The launch of the new Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator (ANNPSR) was in Canberra on Friday 31 October, 2025.
Republished with the permission of the Department of Defence. Click here for the original link.
