Monopoly Control: Government Ownership and Control of Network Utility Industries in Australia from 1788 to 1988 [Hardcover]

This book traces the historical development of the network utilities sector in Australia (communications, rail, gas, electricity, water supply, and sewerage services). It looks across industries, time periods and the state and federal jurisdictions, to identify what motivated the various governments to establish these enterprises and what issues arose. The book is therefore informed by the relationship between politics and society on the one hand and economic history on the other; as well as the efforts of governments in Australia to promote economic growth and the wealth of Australians. The main focus of the book is to identify and analyse the following two main questions: (i) What were the main drivers and motivations for governments establishing government-owned business in the network utilities sector? (ii) To what degree were these government-owned businesses successful at achieving the aims of these governments? In doing so the inherent characteristics of these industries areidentified, in terms of their need for rights of way, network effects, the monopoly characteristics, and the potential for stimulating growth.

Part I: Setting the framework.- Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Australian economic development and network utilities.- Part II: The construction of the new infrastructure: the 19^th century.- Chapter 3: Infrastructure development: industrialisation, institutions, private interests, and public capital investment.- Chapter 4: The colonial post office.- Chapter 5: Local supply networks: water and gas.- Chapter 6: Railways: emergence and development.- Part III: A new nation and its networks: 1901 to 1945.- Chapter 7: Infrastructure provision for a new nation.- Chapter 8: The development of telecommunications.- Chapter 9: Urban amenities: electricity, gas, and tramways.- Chapter 10: The railways: growth and decllÃÜ