<p>The National Transport Commission (NTC) has released a discussion paper on its strategic direction to 2010ቧ for public comment.</p> <p>Focus group discussions with stakeholders held around Australia during April and May 2007 have informed the development of the NTC’s proposed strategic directions and reform initiatives.</p> <p>NTC said the sector needed to “work smarter” to accommodate the predicted growth in the transport task, while keeping cost structures competitive and reducing the quantity of external costs suffered. </p> <p>“Simply throwing more inputs at the problem will not meet the challenge because such inputs will only be provided if the market price rises,” it said. </p> <p>“Increases in input costs will be passed on by suppliers to the end users of transport services. </p> <p>“Holding all else constant, this will impact negatively on gross domestic product and Australian living standards.”</p> <p>Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback by September 16</p> <p>For more, go to: http://www.ntc.gov.au/DocView.aspx?page=A02215506300580020</p> <br />