Abstract: With Australia's goal of being competitive on the world stage, it is instructive to look at our transport industries to identify which components meet this criterion. The road transport and forwarding industry shines out like a beacon. The 'big three', Mayne Nickless, Brambles and TNT are all major Australian transnational companies. Each earns a significant share of its revenue from overseas operations. This is the ultimate test - not whether an operation performed better than it did last year but how it compares with best international practice. The Australian road transport and forwarding industry has instituted major reforms in its management, labour productivity and the application of new technology. Competition was, and is, the driving force. It is of great concern that any government efforts to construct a conceptual 'level playing field' could lop off the performance peaks to fill in the performance valleys - rather than raising the overall level to match that of the peaks. The danger of any reduction to a 'lowest common denominator' is one to be avoided at all costs. The potential gains from transport reform are enormous. The Business Council of Australia estimates these at over three billion dollars, leading to a six billion dollar, or 2.3 per cent, gain in GDP.
Publication Year: 1990
Publication Date: 1990-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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