LATEST NEWS

• ACIL Tasman-ACCI Survey of Investor Confidence, January 2006: Economic conditions steady, investment expectations at record levels.

  The January 2006 Survey of Investor Confidence indicates that Australian business conditions are holding up, although business
  conditions are below the peaks recorded in 2004. The survey data shows that businesses have been able to renew their momentum in a number of key areas while also facing a number of difficulties, especially on the profits front, with profit growth being recorded at only very modest rates. Overall the data indicates that economic conditions will remain at about present levels as 2006 unfolds.

Click here to view the Press Release. The survey can be downloaded by clicking here (PDF format 346KB).

• ACIL Tasman presents at the National Generation Outlook Conference, 24th and 25th October 2005.

  Paul Hyslop, Principal Consultant at ACIL Tasman, recently made a presentation at the National Generation Outlook Conference. The presentation can be viewed by clicking here (PDF format 218KB).
  

• ACIL Tasman survey on the impact of fuel price changes on Australian business

  In September 2005 ACIL Tasman undertook a survey of Australian business. The survey questionnaire asked respondents whether higher fuel prices had affected the prices they charged, and whether they had reduced sales revenue for the business. Just over half said that their prices had needed to rise, while around 36% felt their sales revenue had fallen as a result.

  Click here to view the press release (PDF format 73KB). The results of the survey can be viewed by clicking here (PDF format 161KB).
  

• Research into access to recycled water and impediments to recycled water investment

  ACIL Tasman recently conducted a review on impediments to recycled water in Australia for the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on behalf of the Natural Resource Policy And Programs Committee.

  The objective of the research was to provide information to governments that will assist in the development of policies to encourage growth in the utilisation of recycled water.

  The research had two components:

• The first was to bring together the considerable literature on issues associated with access to recycled water and impediments to investment.

• The second was to obtain the views and responses of stakeholders who play a key role in recycled water management on issues associated with access to recycled water and impediments to investment. Views were sought through both an online survey of over 100 stakeholders with different roles in the industry, and follow-up interviews of selected stakeholders.

Click here to view the final report (PDF format 633KB).

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website can be found at: http://www.daff.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86-BA1A-11A1-A2200060B0A05631

• ACIL Tasman-ACCI Survey of Investor Confidence, October 2005: Business conditions stabliise

  The ACIL Tasman-ACCI Survey of Investor Confidence shows business confidence has receded from the all-time highs recorded one year ago but that growth continues to be sound. Importantly, many of the key indicators, such as sales and profits, have shown signs of stabilising after trending down over the past twelve months. However, at this stage businesses are factoring in subdued GDP growth and investment indicators still remaining well down from their peaks of last year.

  The survey covers the months of July, August and September 2005 and had 887 respondents.

Click here to view the Press Release. The survey can be downloaded by clicking here (PDF format 350KB).

• The Western Australian Government has recently announced the establishment of a new Department of Water to drive the Government's water reform agenda.

  The creation of the new Department was a key recommendation of the recently completed Irrigation Review. ACIL Tasman's John Roberts, a Senior Consultant in the Perth Office, was a member of the Irrigation Review Steering Committee, which undertook the Review.
  

• Study options for the North-South rail corridor

  ACIL Tasman is a member of a consortium (with Ernst & Young and Hyder engineering) that has been appointed to study options for the North-South rail corridor. The study will look at means of accomodating expected increase in freight volumes over the next 25 years. ACIL Tasman is concentrating on demand analysis, and interacting with the other companies on infrastructure alternatives and overall economics. An outline of the project, which will be completed in mid 2006 can be viewed by clicking here.

• World Bank study of Rail Privatisation in Australia and New Zealand

  David Greig at ACIL Tasman, with assistance from Matt Amor, was co-author of a World Bank study on the experience with railway preservation in Australia and New Zealand. The other authors, who previously had been colleagues of David's at a Sydney transport consulting firm Travers Morgan, were Robert Williams and Ian Wallis of Booz.Allen and Hamilton. Between the three, their experience covers most of the privatisations. The report is one of a series published by the Bank to assist developing countries to determine whether and how to privatise their railways; the other reports cover the United Kingdom, Africa and South America.

  David drafted most of the sections on passenger rail franchising in Melbourne and on the privatisation of the Victorian and Tasmanian freight railways; he contributed substantially to the New Zealand section; and he and Matt contributed to some of the other sections.

  The gist of the report is that carefully executed freight railway privatisations can lead to better performance than under continued state ownership; the design and implementation of passenger rail franchising is more difficult but can be worthwhile if lessons are drawn from earlier UK and Victorian experience.

  The report is available by clicking here.