bitre

BITRE celebrating more than 50 years

It has been more than 50 years since the first staff started work at what was then the Bureau of Transport Economics (BTE)—today, the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE).

The Bureau was established by Cabinet in 1970 to “analyse the economics of transport in Australia” with a focus on transport costs and supporting a “reliable, safe and fast national transport system”.

Since then its work has broadened to include infrastructure and formerly, communications, cities and regions (now the responsibility of the portfolio's Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research).

Over the more than 50 years since it was established, the Bureau has delivered excellent applied research and collated national statistics that have informed decisions by governments and industry—decisions that have improved services to Australians living in both cities and regional communities.