John Singleton with Bob HowardRip Van Australia (Stanmore: Cassell Australia, 1977), p. 3, under the heading “AAA Tow Truck Co.”.

You walk along the road minding your own business and you get hit by a truck.

Five minutes later, eight tow trucks arrive on the scene competing to see who can tow the truck away. Half an hour later, the police arrive to work out whether it was your fault or the truck’s fault. And two hours later (after you’re history department) the ambulance arrives to see if it can be of any assistance.

If you really doubt the efficiency of free enterprise and competition over services designed by governments to be “in the public interest”, you should imagine yourself stretched out on that road.

Imagine the difference it would make to the tow truck driver’s attitudes if the industry was nationalised tomorrow with all truck drivers becoming salaried public servants.

Or alternatively: Imagine the difference it would make to the efficiency of the ambulance business if it was subject to the same competitive pressures as the tow truck business.

These alternatives are what this book is all about.