AUSTRALIA really was ‘The Lucky Country’, Lyall Wheaton told the November meeting of Horsham Men’s Probus Club when speaking about wealth gained from the mining boom.
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Mr Wheaton spoke to Probus about mining in Australia.
He said that despite a relative decline in mining returns in recent years, mining still contributed about 10 per cent of Australia’s gross national product.
Although the price of iron ore had fallen from $190 a tonne to $50, it remained the country’s most important export.
Mining had eclipsed agriculture as Australia’s major export industry about 20 years ago.
Mining eclipsed agriculture as Australia’s major export industry about 20 years ago.
- Lyall Wheaton
Australia’s most important mining exports are, in order - iron ore, coal, liquid natural gas, gold, oil and copper.
Mr Wheaton said liquid natural gas was emerging as an increasingly important export with sales expected to rise to about $50 billion annually, compared with the present export value of $16 billion.
It is estimated Australia has reserves of gas to last nearly 200 years.
Western Australia was the source of 70 per cent of Australia’s exports, although South Australia had important reserves of gas, copper, opal and uranium.
Mr Wheaton also commented on the negative social impact on communities and workers of fly-in, fly-out labour. Women now comprised about 20 per cent of mining workers while Fortescue Mining employed many indigenous workers, Mr Wheaton said.
Mining offered many employment opportunities including work for engineers, surveyors, welders, drivers and mechanics. However, automaton was becoming increasingly important, Mr Wheaton said.
Birthday greetings were extended to Merv Charlton, Bill Green, Richard Steere, Max Johns, John McRoberts and Laurie Simpson.
Birthday greetings for December went to Jock Winter, Ian MacInnes, Elmore Ruwoldt, Bert Haustorfer, Bruce Stewart, Allan Vivian, Terry Miller, Don McKenzie, Les Wills, John Parker and Barrie Hateley.
The final 2015 gathering will be a Christmas dinner on Tuesday, December 1 from 6.30pm at Horsham RSL Club.
