Transport: 1970s - 1990s

Air travel 1970s -1990s

By the 1970s, the jet age had truly arrived. New, large turbine-powered aircraft could fly much higher, faster, and further than ever before. Planes could fly to many overseas destinations without stopping, bringing much of the world within one day's travel time from Australia.

In 1971, Qantas acquired its first Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet fleet. These planes could carry 300 passengers; a huge jump from the previous Boeing 707 which could carry only 100 people. Airfares became cheaper, making it possible for different social classes to experience international travel. Airports also improved to accommodate the new aircraft and in 1970, both Sydney and Melbourne opened international terminals.

In the 1990s, air travel took another great leap forward with the introduction of Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets. These aircraft could carry 500 people and required just one fuel stop between Australia and Europe or the US.

Air travel in the 1990s continued to become faster and easier. Between 1986 and 1995, it was estimated that the number of international trips made by Australians increased by 75 percent. Domestic flights replaced rail as the dominant mode of transport between capital cities. Cheaper flights also became vital to Australia's growing domestic and international tourism industry.

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As with all other modes of transport, concerns were raised during the 1990s about the environmental impact of modern aircraft. Many experts believed, and still do, that the future of air travel is under threat unless aircraft design was modified to become more fuel-efficient and less polluting.

Rail travel 1970s-1990s

As cities around Australia grew ever larger throughout the 1970s, railway networks played an even more vital role. Road congestion rapidly increased in urban areas throughout the 1980s and trains were an important way for many Australians to travel around the city.

In 1988, Tangara trains began servicing metropolitan Sydney. These double-storey trains could carry 2080 people in eight carriages.

Interstate rail travel suffered a marked decline throughout the 1970s and 1980s - mostly as a result of faster and increasingly cheaper air travel. During the 1990s, governments spent more money on rail networks in order to improve them and make them more competitive. These measures were also designed to reduce traffic congestion and lower air pollution.

Car travel - 1970s

The number of cars in Australia doubled during the 1970s, to four million vehicles. Cars were becoming cheaper to purchase, and customers could choose from a wide range of models and accessories. Petrol was plentiful and inexpensive and the roads were generally free from traffic jams.

While the car was providing new levels of convenience, speed and comfort, the impact of vehicle use on society was beginning to be felt. Road deaths were rising, forcing governments to introduce measures to curb the toll. Safety design specifications were developed for all cars sold in Australia and drivers and passengers riding in the front seat were required to wear seatbelts. Provisional licenses were introduced and police began testing the blood alcohol level of drivers using breathalysers.

In the mid 1970s, the 'golden age' of car ownership appeared to be over. Petrol prices doubled in response to the world oil crisis in 1974 and Australians began to realise that petrol was not an unlimited resource. Environmental design rules were enforced in the construction of new cars to increase fuel efficiency and limit pollution levels.

Roads and bridges

The 1970s were an important decade of road construction. The federal government introduced the National Highway Scheme in 1974, which aimed to join all mainland capital cities by a direct, paved highway route. In Queensland, the scheme also linked Brisbane to Cairns and in Tasmania, joined Hobart to Burnie.

Up until this time, some major Australian roads were still unsealed and many were narrow, dangerous and susceptible to flooding. All roads in the National Highway network were sealed. Many roads were widened and dangerous curved sections were made safer. These improvements marked a new era in Australia's road transport system.

Leaps in engineering technology prompted a growth in bridge construction throughout the 1970s, providing not only physical, but social and economic links between different places. In 1978, the Westgate Bridge was built across Melbourne's Yarra River, linking the inner and eastern parts of the city with the industrial western suburbs.

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Car travel - 1980s

By the 1980s, most Australians considered cars to be a vital part of everyday life. As car ownership continued to rise, however, roads became increasingly congested and pollution levels skyrocketed.

New energy-efficient, more environmentally-friendly cars were introduced. To lower exhaust emissions, catalytic converters were made compulsory in all new cars from 1986. Catalytic converters reduce the toxic level of emissions by changing carbon monoxide, petrol and nitrous oxide into less poisonous gases.

Road deaths in the 1980s had fallen somewhat since the previous decade, but were still a source of concern. In order to curb the toll further, governments made seatbelts compulsory for all car passengers and random breath testing (RBT) was introduced to measure the concentration of alcohol in the blood and so reduce drink-driving. Previously, only people who had been pulled over for traffic offences were legally allowed to be breath tested.

New road rule enforcement technology, like red-light cameras, was introduced to deter motorists from disobeying road rules.

Cars and the environment - 1990s

Environmental issues received a lot of public attention during the 1990s. Scientists warned that rising levels of greenhouse gasses were responsible for global warming and climate change. Transport, particularly the motor car, was named as one of the prime contributors. It has been estimated that transport is responsible for one-quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

High levels of air pollution were also starting to have a major impact on public health, increasing the prevalence of illnesses like asthma and respiratory disease.

While environmental regulations meant that cars were becoming cleaner and more energy efficient, these technological gains were being cancelled out by a steady increase in the number of cars on the road and the greater use of each vehicle.

In 1991, there were almost 8 million registered cars in Australia. The increase in car ownership could be attributed a variety of factors, including rising incomes, improved road networks and a change in public perception regarding the declining efficiency of public transport.

The structure of Australian families was also changing. The increasing number of single people choosing to live alone, for example, meant less car-sharing within households.

Cars and society - 1990s

Huge numbers of cars on Australian roads also led to worsening traffic congestion throughout the 1990s. Many roads in Australian cities had become completely jammed at peak travelling times.

Excess time spent in traffic jams is considered to have a significant impact on quality of life for many people. It reduces time spent with family and time for outdoor physical activity. It also costs motorists money in petrol and further increases air pollution.

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Future car solutions

Efforts were made throughout the 1990s to develop alternative ways of powering cars. Solar power and less polluting fuels like methanol, hydrogen and bio-diesel were researched heavily. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) became a more common alternative fuel.

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Throughout the 1990s, some Australians became increasingly concerned about air pollution from their vehicles and took up more environmentally-friendly modes of transport like walking, cycling and public transport. The widespread use of the internet and the subsequent trend of working from home, was also expected to lead to a decrease in car use.

In 2001, however, it was estimated that car ownership in Australia had further increased to 9.8 million - almost one car for every two people in the county.

By the end of the 1990s, the social and environmental problems posed by cars were a prime concern of governments, industry and the public. Improved urban planning, better public transport and continued research into alternative energy were put forward as solutions to be developed in the coming decades.