APPLICATION OF THE SOCIAL AUDIT CONCEPT TO AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT ISSUES

The Commonwealth Minister for Transport has advocated a social audit approach to the evaluation of the costs and benefits of transport projects and services to ensure that full consideration is given to economic, environmental, social, defence and resource allocation criteria. The Bureau of Transport Economics is undertaking a study of the application of this concept to Australian transport issues, and this paper is based on that study. The essential features of social audits, and Australian and overseas experience with related transport evaluation techniques are examined. Possible initiatives to promote the wider and more consistent application of social audits to Australian transport issues, and some key methodological issues, are also discussed. (Author/TRRL)