A simple line graph of the share of mining investment in Australia’s GDP reveals the scale of what our economy is going through. It shows that mining investment is now twice as large relative to GDP as…
We’ve got it lucky right now, but if we want to stay lucky we need to be realistic about our economic fortunes.
AAP
WHAT IS AUSTRALIA FOR? Australia is no longer small, remote or isolated. It’s time to ask What Is Australia For?, and to acknowledge the wealth of resources we have beyond mining. Over the next two weeks…
The resources boom is political gold for Liberal premier Colin Barnett (second from left).
AAP/Rebecca Le May
Last week’s change in the Western Australian ALP leadership ended the three-year tenure of the ousted Eric Ripper – quite a good innings for a modern opposition leader, even if he wasn’t granted the opportunity…
Iron ore is now Australia’s biggest export.
AFP/CHRISTIAN SPROGOE RIO TINTO
Australia’s economic future lies underneath our feet. The island continent is blessed with a variety of natural resources but none as plentiful or important as iron ore. Iron is a common element in soils…
The poorest 20% of Australians own just 1% of total household wealth.
AAP
David T. Neal, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Lost amidst the chatter about carbon taxes, mining regulation, and the “two-speed economy” is a much more elemental question—at heart, what kind of society do Australians really want to live in? In particular…
Mining companies are finally sharing the benefits with the native owners of the land.
AFP/Christian Sprogoe/Rio Tinto
Aboriginal Australians living in remote areas have, for the past five decades, experienced at close quarters the ill-effects of large scale mining, while receiving few of the benefits. From Cape York…
Men are the economic winners from the current resources boom.
flickr/robstephaustralia
In a decision hailed as ground breaking Fair Work Australia has recently determined that gender is a key factor in women’s low pay. Essentially the argument is that workers in the female dominated community…
The first promotional interview for my new book The Bogan Delusion brought it home very strongly. As the drivetime radio host in Perth and I chatted amiably about the superficial aspects of the possible…