Partnerships in the Australian Bus Operating Environment

Abstract

Industry and government partnering to achieve mutual outcomes is not a new phenomenon, even if it is a relatively underappreciated concept. A focus by governments on value for money underpinned by the tendering of bus service contracts as the default and most common method of awarding operating rights for bus services has led to an operating environment where the focus is often only on efficiency and price, rather than also including social and community benefits and other measures as part of the value parameter. With a focus on marketing and promotion activities that seek to enhance both quantity and quality of public transport ridership, this paper provides a discussion of successful and proposed industry “partnering with government” projects that achieve strategic level objectives and exemplifies the ways government and industry can generate increased value for all stakeholders. It also presents a theoretical lens through which to view the partnership approach along with a literature review of partnerships in a public transport context to see what has gone before. The paper clearly identifies that an open trusting partnering approach to achieve policy outcomes, including negotiated contracts and a focus on community outcomes, can create strong and positive community value.