This paper examines the financial performance of the government business enterprises (GBEs) in the Transport and Communications portfolio: Qantas, Australian Airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC), ANL Limited (previously the Australian Shipping Commission), the Australian National Railways Commission (AN), Telecom, Australia Post, OTC (OTC Limited, previously the Overseas Telecommunications Commission) and AUSSAT Pty Limited.

• Financial Performance of Government Business Enterprises in the Transport and Communications Portfolio 1977–78 to 1988–89
  
  ip_035.pdf
  (7.7 MB)

The study focuses on the current major transport fuels, which in 1988–89 accounted for 93 per cent of Australia's transport sector energy consumption: petrol (leaded and unleaded), automotive diesel oil, fuel oil and aviation turbine fuel. Major demand forecasts examined include those of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research and the Australian Institute of Petroleum, based on forecasts by oil companies, to the year 2000. From an examination of these forecasts and derived own-price elasticities, the study concludes that only relatively large increases in fuel prices are likely to produce anything more than non-marginal reductions in the levels of fuel demand.

• Demand Forecasts and Demand Elasticities for Australian Transport Fuel
  
  op_103.pdf
  (4.84 MB)

The Paper details emissions from various segments of the transport sector, discusses the magnitude of the task involved in reducing transport emissions, and examines the potential for reducing them by alternative means. These include fuel economy improvements, use of alternative fuels, transport system improvements including modal shift, and reductions in discretionary travel.

This Paper provides an examination of three tax policy options. The options relate to taxation of business cars, vehicle sales tax and registration charges, and a carbon tax on transport fuel.

• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Transport: Some Tax Policy Options
  
  wp_003.pdf
  (4.85 MB)

This Paper briefly describes the LAND computer package and outlines studies to verify and apply it. The LAND computer package is an educational tool. It aims to replicate the land use/transport/environment interaction so as to allow the investigation of the long-term impacts of transport and land use policy on the environment. The model is based on a series of discrete steps. These steps relate to natural changes in population, migration of people within the city, movement of employment, creation of transport demand and assignment of this demand to the transport system. The environmental outputs are based on the traffic flows. Exogenous inputs into the model are the supply of urban infrastructure (housing and transport), increase in employment and in- or outmigration.

• Modelling the Land Use–Transport–Environment Interaction
  
  op_107.pdf
  (5.8 MB)

This Working Paper examines past trends in the fuel efficiency of ships and aircraft, and looks at technical developments and economic factors which could yield further improvements. The period to 2005 has received attention because of the Australian Government's 1990 decision to adopt the Toronto target, as an interim planning measure. This target involved a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol to 20 per cent below 1988 levels, by 2005.

• Fuel Efficiency of Ships and Aircraft
  
  wp_004.pdf
  (9.93 MB)

The Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics (BTCE) has provided a comprehensive analysis of the range of possible measures for reducing greenhouse gases in the transport sector. The objective of the papers from the BTCE's greenhouse gas project is to: provide information on the work being undertaken by the BTCE; and expose the BTCE's analysis to comment by others.

• Costs of Reducing Greenhouse Gases in Australian Transport
  
  wp_010.pdf
  (4.15 MB)

Working Paper 10 outlines the BTCE's proposed methodology for analysing measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The objective of the project is to identify least-cost combinations of policy instruments in the freight (including pipelines), urban passenger, non-urban passenger and international (bunkers) segments of the transport sector.

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Demand for Urban Passenger Transport: Design of the Overall Approach
  
  op_108.pdf
  (10.38 MB)

This Paper reviews the physical characteristics of alternative fuels, technical and economic aspects of production of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, environmental, safety and health issues associated with alternative fuel use, factors influencing market acceptance, and policy issues. The emphasis is on the extent of environmental benefits which might result from alternative fuel and the costs involved in making these fuels available. The discussion covers reformulated gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, ethanol, methanol, vegetable oils, natural gas, electric vehicles and hydrogen.

• Alternative Fuels in Australian Transport
  
  ip_039.pdf
  (26.54 MB)

This Working Paper is the first in a series of Working Papers which disseminates the results of a large research project into the adequacy of Australia's transport infrastructure over the next 20 years. The assessment covers all four modes of transport–road, rail, air and sea–with the primary focus on freight.

• Adequacy of Transport Infrastructure: Intercity Roads
  
  wp_014-1.pdf
  (7.88 MB)