Overview

A confluence of factors have emerged in recent years putting road user pricing policies in the spotlight.

The Minister for Urban Infrastructure has identified the growing need to change the way we pay for transport. The Federal Government’s Competition Review identified the need for improved pricing signals to manage traffic congestion and a range of infrastructure bodies have called for demand based road user pricing to improve the productivity of Australian cities.

In April 2017, Uber’s Head of Transportation Policy called for a road user price to be introduced on city streets.

The shift to electric and more efficient vehicles is a major threat to fuel excise revenue (currently accounting for around $20b in Commonwealth revenue). Driverless vehicles are expected to be on our roads in as little as 5 – 10 years from now and have the potential to exacerbate congestion issues. For these reasons, the Commonwealth and State Governments around Australia have begun working on road user pricing policies and models.

The introduction of a network based, road user charge has major implications for government. These seminars, in Sydney and Melbourne will address key areas of concern for all three levels of government, such as:

  • How might a distance and time based price on car use influence transport choice?
  • Could a per km fee be calibrated to reduce rat running on local streets?
  • Should local governments receive a proportion of the revenue generated?
  • How should future revenue be invested? Back into roads, or better public transport and safer streets for walking and cycling?
  • Will a future of shared transport reduce local government car parking revenue, and what strategies can help mitigate this budget threat?
  • How might low income, outer suburban households deal with a road user price, and what mechanisms can be embedded to make it fair?
  • What is the political acceptability of road user pricing and how might it be enhanced?

Speakers & Panelists

  • Peter Harris AO, Chairman, Productivity Commission
  • The Hon John Brumby AO, Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne and Monash University
  • Professor Ian Harper, Reserve Bank Board Member and Senior Advisor to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
  • Professor John Quiggin, Australian Laureate Fellow in Economics, University of Queensland
  • Marion Terrill, Grattan Institute
  • Dr Tim Williams, CEO, Committee for Sydney
  • Professor Bert van Wee, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
  • Professor Michiel Bliemer, Professor of Transport, Planning and Modelling, University of Sydney
  • Dr Elizabeth Taylor, VC Research Fellow, RMIT University
  • Ms Nicole Spencer, Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
  • Dr Jennifer Kent, Research Fellow, University of Sydney
  • Alyssa Serafim, Principal Infrastructure Advisor, Infrastructure Victoria
  • Professor Graham Currie, Monash University
  • Dr Elliot Fishman, Institute for Sensible Transport