In order to provide information to assist with the continuing administration of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme, the Minister for Transport directed the BTE to undertake studies of the costs incurred by Australian industries on Mainland interstate long distance freight transport, and the factors determining the freight rates charged between Tasmania and the Mainland and the potential for cost reductions.

The aim of this Report is to provide a general overview of all aspects of the National Travel Survey (NTS). The topics covered include the survey design and operation, public response to the survey, and corrections applied to the survey results.

The NTS is compared to other surveys and some lessons learnt from the NTS about survey design and operations are outlined. Finally a number of aspects of non-urban travel in Australia are discussed, with particular reference to tourist travel.

• National Travel Survey 1977–78: General Overview and Assessment
  
  report_048.pdf
  (5.3 MB)

This Report presents the results of an investigation of the market conduct and performance of that part of the road haulage industry which undertakes the transportation of cattle intended for slaughter at abattoirs for human consumption.

In addition, an assessment of the costs of transhipping beef from processing points to retail outlets is made. The Ministerial terms of reference for the study are contained in Appendix I.

• Transport of Slaughter Cattle in Australia
  
  report_050.pdf
  (3.27 MB)

This Report was prepared in response to a Ministerial reference to the Bureau relating to an investigation of the demand for sea passenger transport between Tasmania and the mainland.

• Demand for Sea Passenger Transport between Tasmania and the Australian Mainland
  
  report_046.pdf
  (3.09 MB)

The Report is the result of a study of the sources, levels and methods of funding transport research and development (R&D) in Australia, and an investigation of matters pertaining to the effectiveness and efficiency of the transport R&D carried out.

• Funding Characteristics of Transport Research in Australia
  
  report_051.pdf
  (3.8 MB)

With the introduction of cellular container ships in the overseas liner trades, cargo which had traditionally been handled at many ports around Australia was centralised on a few major ports. This change had had a substantial impact on port activity, utilisation of existing facilities, waterside employment and land transport activity.

This report presents the results of a study to determine whether existing cargo centralisation arrangements minimise total transport resource costs and to explore the potential for change.

• Cargo Centralisation in the Overseas Liner Trade
  
  report_052.pdf
  (4.95 MB)

Oil spills are basically chance events, their occurrences and characteristics being governed by probability distributions. Many properties of these distributions can be applied, with reasonable confidence, to the prediction of the location, number and size of oil spills around the Australian coast.

The analyses described in this Report are aimed at identifying the most appropriate statistical distributions underlying oil spill occurrences in Australia, and at interpreting the results to assist the planning process. In particular, the results are used to estimate future levels and locations of chemical dispersant stockpiles.

• Marine Oil Spill Risk in Australia
  
  report_053.pdf
  (4.1 MB)

This report is on the economic and financial benefits and costs of providing standard gauge railway lines to the ports of Brisbane, Melbourne and Geelong. The terms of reference for the study also required the BTE to examine the possible standardisation of the Tocumwal-Mangalore railway line because of the interdependence between the proposed Tocumwal-Mangalore and Melbourne-Geelong links. As a result, the study covered standard gauge links to Fisherman Islands (Brisbane), Swanson Dock (Melbourne) and Geelong, with the latter project including a standard gauge connection between Tocumwal and Mangalore.

• Evaluation of Standard Gauge Rail Connections to Selected Ports
  
  report_054.pdf
  (10.45 MB)

This report presents a review of the existing methodology for calculating attributable airport, airway and other related costs and an evaluation of alternative methods. These costs are used in the Department of Aviation's cost recovery program.

• Attributable Aviation Costs: Review of Valuation Methods
  
  report_055.pdf
  (3.64 MB)

This report presents the results of a study of the Australian road system undertaken by the Bureau of Transport Economics in response to a direction by the then Minister for Transport in May 1982.

• Assessment of the Australian Road System: 1984–Part A
  
  report_056_partA.pdf
  (5.98 MB)

• Assessment of the Australian Road System: 1984–Part B
  
  report_056_partB.pdf
  (834.56 KB)