Contestable market theory suggests that if certain criteria are met, abovenormal profit-taking would be reduced or eliminated because of the threat of entry to exploit even transitory profit opportunities. In this Paper, the criteria which must be met for a market to be contestable are examined with the aim of determining whether Australian liner markets are inherently contestable and therefore theoretically self regulating in the sense that shippers will receive services at or near average costs. The Australia/Europe trade is examined in detail to provide a practical basis for the arguments presented. The assessment, however, is intended to apply to Australian liner markets in general.

• Contestability Theory: An Assessment of its Relevance to Australian Liner Shipping
  
  op_076.pdf
  (2.09 MB)

Volume 1 of the Bureau's Report No 60, 'A Study of Liner Shipping Services into and out of Australia', presents a distillation of the findings of the study and was intended to address the interests of a wide audience and provide a succinct basis for an understanding of the liner shipping industry.

• Vol's 1 and 2: A Study of Liner Shipping Services Into and Out of Australia–Volume 1
  
  report_060_v1.pdf
  (6.08 MB)

• Vol's 1 and 2: A Study of Liner Shipping Services Into and Out of Australia–Volume 2
  
  report_060_v2.pdf
  (23.7 MB)

The objectives of this study were to review developments in world container shipping and establish the main trends in the deep sea trades. This will in turn provide background to the BTE's own studies of liner shipping and the review of shipping policy now taking place in Australia. Having established the trends in individual sectors using established material, the attempt has been made to draw the threads together, to offer interpretations of the scale and dynamics of the process of transition now taking place within the industry, and to consider the nature of the important issues now facing it.

• Container Shipping in Transition
  
  op_077.pdf
  (5.9 MB)

This study analyses the efficiency of the Australian liner shipping industry by using the recently developed theory of contestable markets. Its importance is reflected in the fact that over half of Australia's ocean borne trade is carried by the liner sector. Its topicality flows from both the global issues of legislative initiatives, increased political interference, technological and organisational changes and overtonnaging and from the singularly Australian concerns of service dependability, shore-based costs, trade union influence, the attitudes of shippers and the role of the ANL.

• Contestability and the Australian Liner Trades
  
  op_078.pdf
  (8.88 MB)

In July 1984, the Federal Bureau of Transport Economics organised a seminar to enable the problems of the shore-based shipping industry to be discussed by its senior representatives. The seminar delegates agreed that there was a need for a review of shore-based shipping operations and subsequently the Federal Minister for Transport, the Hon. Peter Morris MHR, established an Industry Task Force on Shore-based Shipping Costs which reported in June 1986. The Bureau provided research support to the Task Force, and this Paper is based on the results of that research and some further analysis.

• Shore-Based Shipping Costs, Non-Bulk Cargo
  
  op_080.pdf
  (13.99 MB)

This Report provides an assessment of the status of the Australian Road System and an examination of its future funding requirements. Roads are divided into the categories recognised by Commonwealth road funding legislation: National Highways (16050 kilometres); rural arterials (89600 kilometres); urban arterials (15400 kilometres); local roads (677400 kilometres).

• Assessment of the Australian Road System
  
  report_061.pdf
  (13.67 MB)

• Assessment of the Australian Road System–Summary Report
  
  report_061_summary.pdf
  (1.02 MB)

In mid-l986 the Federal Bureau of Transport Economics engaged consultant Travers Morgan Pty Ltd to undertake a review of minerals transport in Australia. The objectives of the review were to describe the nature of mineral freight movements in Australia; to identify and assess relevant sources of data; to provide data on mineral movements by mode, origin and destination for the years 1980–81 to 1984–85; and to identify and critically assess possible methodologies for updating mineral freight movements at a later date.

• Transport of Australia's Minerals
  
  ip_020.pdf
  (6.07 MB)

The lack of comprehensive data on transport operations is a long-standing problem in transport research. Information on road transport in particular has proved difficult to obtain. This Paper documents a study which was aimed at developing and testing a technique to estimate long-distance passenger and freight movements based on direct observation of vehicle movements.

• Number Plate Survey Methodology for Long–Distance Traffic Flows
  
  op_081.pdf
  (4.21 MB)

The Royal Commission into Grain Storage, Handling and Transport, was established on 13 October 1986. One of the objectives of the Commission is to investigate the efficiency with which grain is transported in Australia. To this end the Commission sought submissions from interested parties. The Federal Bureau of Transport Economics (BTE) has prepared this Paper in response to that request.

• Competition and Regulation in Grain Transport: Submission to Royal Commission, May 1987
  
  op_082.pdf
  (9.91 MB)

This Paper presents information about the transport sector in Australia. Included are details of the relative importance of the transport sector in the Australian economy, transport costs in the production and distribution of commodities, the contribution that transport makes to Australia's Balance of Payments and some international comparisons.

• The Transport Sector in the Australian Economy
  
  ip_022.pdf
  (5.46 MB)