Heavy Vehicle National Law review regulatory impact statement released for consultation
The National Transport Commission has released the consultation regulation impact statement for reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Flying High
This bulletin looks at government investment into commercial firms prompted by the QLD Government's possible investment in Virgin Australia.
Full Federal Court dismisses ACCC appeal against Aurizon and Pacific National
The Federal Court has released the judgement in the TPG-Vodafone merger case which outlines the reasons why the merger was allowed to proceed.
Nominal GDP Targeting Required Now
Frontier Economics argues the case for a change in fiscal policy to target nominal GDP rather than inflation.
New Bulletin | Value in Value Capture
A new bulletin from Frontier Economics discusses how value capture can make infrastructure investment more equitable and productive.
The Value in Value Capture
Using value capture to fund infrastructure makes infrastructure investment more equitable and productive.
Frontier Economics Singapore is moving
Frontier Economics has moved into new offices in Singapore. This is effective from 6 January 2020.
Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets and competition: what is the way forward?
The Regulatory Policy Institute ANZ inaugural seminar, "Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets and competition: what is the way forward?", is on this evening and is a full house. George [...]
Event – “Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets and competition: what is the way forward?”
George Houpis, director at Frontier Economics (Europe) will be presenting in a panel for the inaugural seminar of the Regulatory Policy Institute ANZ, "Rebuilding faith in institutions, markets [...]
ACCC allows acquisition of GrainCorp Bulk Liquid Terminals by ANZ Terminals
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose the acquisition of GrainCorp Bulk Liquid Terminals by ANZ Terminals, subject to certain provisions.
The Productivity Commission, blind men and elephants
Frontier Economics comment on the Productivity Commission's inquiry into airport regulation.
“Brexit & Australia”, Singapore
'Brexit & Australia' took place in Singapore on 25 September 2019, with Frontier Economics (Europe) Chair, Lord Gus O'Donnell, and Andrew Robb AO, former Australian Minister for Trade presenting.
Frontier Economics comment on inquiry into airport regulation
Frontier Economics comment on the Productivity Commission's inquiry into airport regulation.
Brexit & Australia – AustCham and BritCham presents in Singapore
BritCham and AustCham in Singapore are co-presenting an event, Brexit & Australia, on Wednesday 25 September 2019. Speakers are Frontier Economics (Europe) Chair, Lord Gus O'Donnell, and Andrew [...]
Federal Court Dismisses ACCC Proceedings Against Pacific National and Aurizon
The Federal Court has dismissed proceedings brought by the ACCC against rail companies Pacific National and Aurizon.
New Bulletin: Valuing the real impacts of rail
This bulletin from Frontier Economics discusses valuing the real impacts of rail and making a compelling business case for investment in this infrastructure.
Valuing the real impacts of rail
This bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at valuing the real impacts of rail and making a compelling business case for investing in this infrastructure.
Submissions to the 2018 Productivity Commission Review of Airport Regulation
We discuss the ACCC's submission to the Productivity Commission's 2018 Review of Airports Regulation.
The performance and impact of Australia’s airports since privatisation – report launch by A4ANZ
A report by the airlines group Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) released today argues that Australian passengers and the economy are losing out to monopoly airports.
Ride sharing and public transportation – the next big disruption
As the public increasingly embraces ride sharing, the discussion has extended from the implications for the taxi industry to the potential for it to also disrupt public transport. This bulletin [...]
New Bulletin: Ride sharing and public transportation – the next big disruption
A new bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at ride sharing and its potential to transform (or disrupt) public transportation.
Victorian taxi and ride sharing reforms pass Parliament
The Victorian Parliament has passed legislation that will introduce Australia's most open and competitive commercial passenger vehicle market.
Federal Court rejects application for Judicial Review of Tribunal re Port of Newcastle
The Federal Court rejects application for Judicial Review of Tribunal re Port of Newcastle.
ACCC wins against the airlines on market definition
The ACCC wins against the airlines on market definition in High Court ruling on air freight cartel.
Value capture: bypassing the infrastructure impasse?
Australia needs at least $300 billion, and up to $700 billion, spent on infrastructure over the short to medium term if it is to maintain and improve its productivity and liveability [1].
Value capture: bypassing the infrastructure impasse? New Frontier bulletin
Australia is estimated to need at least $300 billion, and up to $700 billion, spent on infrastructure over the short to medium term if it is to maintain and improve its productivity and liveability.
Victorian Government leases Port of Melbourne
The Victorian state government announced that the Lonsdale Consortium was the successful bidder for the 50-year lease for the commercial operations of the Port of Melbourne.
Victorian Government legalises Uber and other ride-sharing services
The Victorian Government today announced a package of regulatory reforms designed to reduce barriers to entry into the taxi and other commercial passenger vehicle market. This will formally allow [...]
ACCC not to oppose proposals for Port of Melbourne Lease
On 19 August the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council decided that its Senior Committee of Officials would conduct a fresh review of the limited merits review (LMR) regime that [...]
Nominal GDP Targeting
Has the time come to replace the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA’s) mandate to keep inflation between two and three percent per annum with a ‘nominal GDP’ growth target of five and a half [...]
Essential Services Commission (Victoria) releases draft report on taxi fares
The Essential Services Commission today released its draft report on the regulation of maximum taxi fares in Victoria.
Unappealing Prospects
The Australian Competition Tribunal’s recent judgment found in favour of the businesses that sought merits review of the Australian Energy Regulator’s revenue determinations, on most of the [...]
ACCC grants conditional authorisation to new booking app ihail
The ACCC granted conditional authorisation to a joint venture between taxi networks and other industry participants to launch and operate a new smartphone taxi booking app called ihail.
ESC releases final report on Accident Towing Regulation in Victoria
The ESC today released its final report into the regulation of accident towing services in Victoria. Frontier Economics assisted the ESC with the report.
Levelling Up
In an earlier bulletin, Uber Regulated? we examined the case for regulating so-called “sharing economy” services, like Uber and Airbnb. In this companion piece, we discuss why it is important to [...]
Levelling up – New Frontier Economics bulletin
In a new bulletin published today, Frontier (Australia) discusses why it is important to understand the economic value likely to be created by sharing services such as Uber and Airbnb.
Frontier Economics welcomes SFG Consulting and new executive directors
Specialist financial economists Professor Stephen Gray and Dr Jason Hall from SFG Consulting Pty Ltd, along with Andrew Harpham from our energy team have joined Frontier (Australia) as executive [...]
Expecting The Unexpected: The Challenges Of Traffic Forecasting
Inaccurate traffic forecasts are not a recent phenomenon. However, these inaccuracies are increasingly being exposed as a result of the greater involvement of the private sector in road development.
Expecting the unexpected – New Frontier Economics bulletin
The latest bulletin from Frontier Economics looks at the challenges of traffic forecasting.
Uber regulated? – New Frontier Economics bulletin
Frontier (Australia)’s latest bulletin considers how we should regulate new smartphone-based taxi apps like Uber.
Uber Regulated?
How We Should Regulate ‘Smartphone’ Taxi Apps. The emergence of smartphone-based apps to order and pay for taxis could revolutionise how these markets work – and reduce the need for onerous regulation.
Taxi reform to commence in Victoria
The Australian state Government of Victoria today published its response to the recommendations of the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry, that it set up in March 2011.
Taken For A Ride?
In this briefing, we examine the likely implications of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s reforms to card surcharging practices. Difficulties applying the new regulatory Standard to taxis provides [...]
Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry Final Report Released
The final report of the Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry was tabled in Parliament today. The Inquiry, looking into all aspects of the Victorian taxi industry, ran for 16 months and included [...]
Australia’s Public Infrastructure Assets Under Scrutiny
Infrastructure Australia, the Government’s advisory body on infrastructure, today published a report “Australia's Public Infrastructure - Part of the Answer to Removing Infrastructure Deficit”.
Australian High Court quashes Tribunal decision on access to iron ore rail lines
The High Court of Australia (‘High Court’) today ruled that the Australian Competition Tribunal (‘the Tribunal’) had exceeded its powers in its decision regarding access to railway lines by [...]
Victorian Taxi Inquiry publishes draft recommendations
The Victorian Taxi Industry Inquiry today published its draft recommendations on the reform of the Victorian taxi and hire car industry.
National rail safety regulatory regime on track
States met today at the 2nd Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure (SCOTI) to consider a range of major transport reforms.
Jet fuel supply services at Sydney Airport escape access regulation
The Australian Treasurer decided today that jet fuel supply infrastructure services at Sydney Airport should not be subject to a third party access regime.
Constructive Criticism
Making negotiations between airports and airlines work. Australia, New Zealand and the UK have adopted different approaches to regulating airports. However, all place some reliance on direct [...]
Constructive Criticism
Australia, New Zealand and the UK have adopted different approaches to regulating airports. However, all place some reliance on direct negotiations or ‘constructive engagement’ between an airport [...]
Frontier (Australia) expands transport capability
Frontier (Australia) welcomes Anna Wilson to expand our capacity in the transport sector.
New Zealand air freight decision
An international air freight cartel, involving airlines from New Zealand, Japan, the UAE, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Australia, has been the subject of proceedings in courts around [...]
Australian Competition Tribunal declares access to railway lines in the Pilbara
The Australian Competition Tribunal announced on 1 July 2010 that it would declare access to two privately-owned railway lines carrying iron ore from the Pilbara region in Western Australia to [...]
Improving Water Management In Northern Victoria
A Report Prepared For The Victorian Department Of Sustainability And Environment. To assist with the development of the Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy in Victoria, this paper assesses [...]
Airside Services at Sydney Airport subjected to regulation
The Australian Competition Tribunal has decided to uphold the appeal by Virgin Blue against the Minister's decision not to "declare" the Airside Service at Sydney Airport. This means that the [...]
Rowing success for Frontier Economics
A crew from Frontier Economics won the inaugural Ruyton Regatta held on the Maribyrnong River Melbourne.