POLICY
DIRECTIONS
David Bray, Economic and Policy Services Pty Ltd
Policy directions



Review of technical issues
Public policy formulation
Ways forward
Technical Issues

Supply chains, networks and globalisation


Mode choice - movement rather than mode


perhaps there – for non-urban transport
Future growth in demand


accepted thinking
considerable growth anticipated
Providing adequate system capacity
a challenge
 need for robustness
 relative cost of infrastructure and operations
 timing

Technical issues - continued

Economic growth
 Renewed

emphasis
Productivity
 Operational

Safety
 Public

efficiency
views and government actions
Environment
 Firmly
on the agenda
 Limited agreement on best ways forward
Technical issues - continued

Technical issues given less emphasis
 Capital
financing
 Pricing
 Urban
transport
The policy process


Sabatier (1999) “Theories of the Policy Process”
Some common themes for more comprehensive
frameworks (multiple streams, punctuated
equilibrium, advocacy coalition)
 Policy
communities
 Policy windows
 Policy entrepreneurs

Also role for policy diffusion, funnel of causality, etc
Implications

We do not control the agenda
 Though


we try to varying degrees to influence it
We are part of policy communities
We need to have policy analysis available
 To
support policy communities
 For when it is needed
Two related issues – Ease of Change

Different capacity for transport sub-sectors to
accommodate growth, ranging through:
 Aviation
 Road
transport and logistics
 Rail transport
 Urban transport

In part related to the complexity of action
- and Rationale for Action

Can discern presented policies and proposals that
are
 Demand
led
 Supply led
 Vision or Aspirational – which can be
 Principles
based
 Outcome based

All have merits and risks
Policy Directions - Achievements

Some big issues are in place
 Labour
aspects of micro-economic reform
 Concern for efficiency gains
 Role of rail given clearer prominence and framework is
in place
 In general, fixed assets and operations are separated
for all modes
A
productive tension
 Negative effect of protection
 Safety
also given new prominence
Future issues






Infrastructure
Safety
Environment
Strategic planning
Pricing
Urban transport
Infrastructure

Providing capacity
 Anticipating
demand
 Prioritising projects
 Scheduling implementation

Auslink
 Have

we replaced one moral hazard with another?
Road infrastructure
 How
much road infrastructure?
 Sustaining road assets - how to increase discipline?
Safety

How to improve walking-the-walk
 Limits

to what can be done internally
The importance of demand led approaches
 Community
buy-in and behaviour change
 Giving politicians the support they need
Environment




The awakening giant
Different perspectives on solutions
Need to keep research and policy analysis broadbased and current
Importance of public attitudes and response
Strategic planning

International practice
 Germany,

Greater Mekong Subregion, China
What does this mean for us – some needs
 Understand
context
 Recognise drivers of change
 Understand the available policy instruments
 Commit to following through
 Clear thinking; coordination; innovation & trialling

Implications of planning in a market economy
Pricing


Progress in Germany
In Australia
 Has

Phase I ended – in a stalemate?
Future needs
 Keep
policy analysis current
 Look for short term opportunities,
eg fixed to variable pricing
 Potential role for insurance companies
Urban transport




The lumbering giant
General concurrence on the vision
Limited success to date
Will need to consider the roles for
 Demand
led and planned outcome approaches
 Persuasion, prices and regulation policy instruments
Thanks
to
DOTARS, BTRE,
Phil Potterton & other staff
and the speakers
for an excellent Colloquium