Balance Research

Balance Research, a voluntary organisation, is based in Melbourne, Australia. We study and write on policy issues relating to Transport and Telecommunications.

Our Director, Michael Isaachsen, has many years' experience in researching and debating transport issues, and worked for nearly 30 years with Australia's telephone company (now Telstra).

The main thrust of Balance Research's transport work is to place on the public agenda that if society is to avoid a blow-out in resources used by transport, public transport and rail freight must grow much faster than now contemplated despite the new-found zeal of most governments for rail expansion.

Our telecommunications work mainly relates to Australia's official scheme for numbering of telephone services.

ABOUT BALANCE RESEARCH

WHAT ?

Our registered organisation is BALANCE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION and it is registered with the Australian Tax Office as a tax-exempt charity. The term charity is applied by the ATO in a wider sense: we don't run a soup kitchen, we just do research and education and if we ever make a profit it must be used to further our aims.

We are free to pay wages but have not done so, however our volunteers are able to claim out-of-pocket expenses and meal allowances.

The Association's limited revenue comes from small consultancy jobs, attendance fees at meetings and occasional speaker's fees.

WHO ?

Our Director is Michael Isaachsen. Michael has many years experience in debating transport resource issues, and has studied transport technology and operations as a user, by asking questions and by extensive private research. Michael also worked for Australia's telephone company for 28 years in a variety of administrative and operational positions.

At this time, there are no other regular volunteers. We do need more help, though. Nice of you to ask!

WHERE ?

Balance Research is based in Footscray, a suburb of Melbourne. Melbourne is a metropolis of 3.5 million, the capital of the State of Victoria, Australia.

We have no office address that you can visit, at present.

Please write to:

                  BALANCE RESEARCH
                  P.O. Box 555,
                  Footscray, Victoria
                  AUSTRALIA 3011

EMAIL, TELEPHONE

Our telephone number is 9689 7555. Area code 03, or from overseas dial +61 3.

E-mail: transport@BalanceResearch.com.

[If you write, or e-mail, AND WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE, please include a telephone number]

WHY ?

Why would anyone devote years of effort as a volunteer to promote understanding of transportation resources? Beats me! But if you think the ideas are worthwhile, please write to me, PLEASE TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS !!!

THIS SITE ...

The rather clunky appearance and functionality of this site, and indeed its very existance, is due to the efforts of our Director who since 1996 has been compiling the papers of Balance Research into web pages.

The website runs on the servers of VICNET, VICTORIA'S NETWORK. Vicnet is provided by the Government of Victoria and offers free sites and training to community organisations, and is MUCH APPRECIATED!

NOTE: [as at August 2013] The site has not been updated for some years due to other duties, until the addition of the "Election 2013" paragraphs.

STATEMENT FROM OUR DIRECTOR

Michael tells of his experiences in transport and telecommunications.

TRANSPORT OVERVIEW PAGE
INCLUDING LINKS TO PAPERS AND FURTHER PAGES

INDEX OF PAPERS AND SUBMISSIONS
BY-PASSING THE OVERVIEW PAGE

TRANSPORT HIGHLIGHTS PAGE
A PAGE OF TRANSPORT PHILOSOPHY IN POINT FORM

TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY

Click Here for our Telecoms Intro

TELEPHONE NUMBERS CAN BE AND SHOULD BE GEOGRAPHICALLY MEANINGFUL
AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY NUMBERING PLAN IS DEFICIENT and is leading to number chaos
BALANCE RESEARCH DEVISES NUMBERING RULES TO PROVIDE FOR GROWTH WITHOUT LOSS OF MEANING
DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE SERVICE - VALUE FOR MONEY?
OPERATOR ASSISTANCE WHEN THE NETWORK IS IN TROUBLE

Volunteering at Balance Research

Some of this interesting work can be done at home.

Read our Volunteers Page.

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