Troubled waters !

Sydney has one of the most beautiful harbours in the world and it would be logical to expect it to embrace harbour ferries as a preferred mode of transport.
Unfortunately the state government owned and run ferry service leaves much to be desired. It has had an unfortunate run of accidents, two with pleasure craft resulting in loss of life and then there have been the regular instances of ferries losing power, veering off course - and ramming wharves.

An enquiry into these incidents has suggested that running the service be transferred to either private enterprise - or a public/private consortium. The government has agreed to have a look at this suggestion - but insists that ferry routes and timetables - and the fare structure - would remain entirely under government control.

That sounds like a familiar recipe for disaster. Already the unions are up in arms, fearful that any move towards the private sector would mean job losses. The enquiry suggests that both the Harbourcat and Rivercat services be discontinued as the vessels are too expensive to maintain.
Many people will compare this with the response to getting the trains to run on time - by reverting to a slower, steam age timetable. The " Cat " series twin hulls were popular simply because they delivered a quicker way of getting to and from work.

Many people will dread the prospect of the government trying to stitch up another deal with private enterprise. The " Cross city tunnel " fiasco is still fresh in people's minds - with a heavy handed series of road closures trying to funnel traffic into an overpriced tunnel. The result was a driver revolt, total chaos and finally the bankruptcy of the tunnel operator.
There is a feeling in some quarters that this government would be hard pressed to successfully raffle a duck !

The best - and probably the only option - will be to get out of the ferry business and let private enterprise do the sums and make the decisions. A ferry has to compete with the car, the bus and the train. The service and timetable has to suit the user - and the price has to be right or the customers will not come and use it.

Unfortunately such finesse is usually beyond the grasp of governments. The enquiry is a breath of fresh air - and a chance to make use of this magnificent harbour and get the ferry equation right !