Any lessons for future policy

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AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT REFORMS

• Any lessons for future policy?
• Derek Scrafton
• Transport Systems Centre, UniSA

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Introduction

• Historical context
• The NCP factor
• Lessons learned
• What next?

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Historical context

• 1950s - the rise of trucking
• 1960s - gradual deregulation
• 1970s - changes to railways
• 1980s - aviation reforms
• 1990s - NRC , NRTC, NCP

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Air Transport

• Privatisation of Qantas
• Privatisation of major airports
• Relaxation of foreign ownership rules
• Passive response to Ansett collapse
• Ending regulation of airports
• Liberalisation of some bilaterals

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Marine transport

• Stevedoring reform
• Sale of Australian National Line
• Use of foreign ships in domestic trades
• Privatisation of South Australian ports
• Privatisation of regional Victorian ports

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Road Transport

• Private provision of infrastructure
• NRTC/NTC nationally consistent charges
• Performance based standards
• Tighter emissions noise standards
• Road safety initiatives
• Harmonisation of technical regulation

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Railways

• Privatisation of ANR, NRC/Freightcorp etc.
• Corporatisation and expansion of QR
• Vertical separation of some rail assets
• Establishment and expansion of ARTC
• Mandated provision of third party access
• Incorporation of rail matters into NTC
• Private passenger railways GSR, Air links

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Urban public transport

• Franchising tram train services in Melbourne
• Contracting out bus services in SA WA
• New contracting areas in NSW (after Unsworth
  review)
• Integration of service planning, fares,
  ticketing, etc. in SE Queensland

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Summary of reforms

• Private funding, ownership /or management of
  infrastructure services
• Employment practices
• Operational practices
• Regulatory harmonisation
• Technical harmonisation
• Pricing

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Lessons

• Deregulation essential first step
• Open access creation of markets
• Leadership COAG etc
• Patience and determination
• Corporatisation positive step
• Franchising/contracting out patchy
• Professional support and independent advice

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Next steps

• Residual issues, e.g. taxis, UPT, etc.
• Linking investment to needs
• Reduce parochialism and hype
• Tougher Treasuries
• Inter-modal packages of reforms
• Long-term framework for transport planning

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