An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?

Questions over the role of mining in the Australian economy and society have gained increasing public scrutiny in recent years. In this paper we consider whether the role of mining in Australian society has changed with the recent mining boom. The paper draws attention to four key areas. The first i...

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Main Authors: Measham, T., McKenzie, Fiona Haslam, Moffat, K., Franks, D.
Format: Journal Article
Published: EContent Management Pty Ltd 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25076
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author Measham, T.
McKenzie, Fiona Haslam
Moffat, K.
Franks, D.
author_facet Measham, T.
McKenzie, Fiona Haslam
Moffat, K.
Franks, D.
author_sort Measham, T.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Questions over the role of mining in the Australian economy and society have gained increasing public scrutiny in recent years. In this paper we consider whether the role of mining in Australian society has changed with the recent mining boom. The paper draws attention to four key areas. The first is the economics of mining, where a rise in commodity values has made mining more profitable. Mining now dominates Australian exports more than in previous booms. The second area is the scale of mining operations, which have grown substantially, reflecting unprecedented investment. The third area is the degree to which the effects of resource extraction extend to surrounding areas and distant urban centres through long distance commuting. Finally, we consider the centrality of the mining sector in public life: attention to mining in the media and encroachment on other land uses, and we look for evidence of changes in public acceptance of the sector. In conclusion we argue that the role of the mining sector in Australian society and economy has indeed changed. The changes in terms of trade and the scale of mining have made the resource sector so important in Australia that increased impact in public life is unavoidable.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-250762017-09-13T15:20:00Z An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society? Measham, T. McKenzie, Fiona Haslam Moffat, K. Franks, D. Dutch disease contested land use mining boom long distance commuting Questions over the role of mining in the Australian economy and society have gained increasing public scrutiny in recent years. In this paper we consider whether the role of mining in Australian society has changed with the recent mining boom. The paper draws attention to four key areas. The first is the economics of mining, where a rise in commodity values has made mining more profitable. Mining now dominates Australian exports more than in previous booms. The second area is the scale of mining operations, which have grown substantially, reflecting unprecedented investment. The third area is the degree to which the effects of resource extraction extend to surrounding areas and distant urban centres through long distance commuting. Finally, we consider the centrality of the mining sector in public life: attention to mining in the media and encroachment on other land uses, and we look for evidence of changes in public acceptance of the sector. In conclusion we argue that the role of the mining sector in Australian society and economy has indeed changed. The changes in terms of trade and the scale of mining have made the resource sector so important in Australia that increased impact in public life is unavoidable. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25076 10.5172/rsj.2013.22.2.184 EContent Management Pty Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Dutch disease
contested land use
mining boom
long distance commuting
Measham, T.
McKenzie, Fiona Haslam
Moffat, K.
Franks, D.
An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
title An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
title_full An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
title_fullStr An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
title_full_unstemmed An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
title_short An expanded role for the mining sector in Australian society?
title_sort expanded role for the mining sector in australian society?
topic Dutch disease
contested land use
mining boom
long distance commuting
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/25076