Re: The mining boom......
 

I doubt there is much manual physical work envolved in modern open cast mining. I would imagine a much harder days work would be found on a residential housing site working as a framer,bricklayer or roofer as a contractor, 8 hours flat out with one 20 minute break for smoko. Main hardship in mining would be being away from family and working in extreme heat but compensated with some nice coin.

Re: The mining boom......
 

i agree with the union part, just wish they could use non union local workforce.

Re: The mining boom......
 

From my memories there was some pretty hard work - the equipment is huge, and although you could use cranes, there was still a lot of pushing and pulling in very hot conditions.

Th worst bit I remember was the dirt - either dust or mud that got everywhere, and as you say, being a long way from anywhere.

One TV channel if you were lucky, ABC radio, no women, no entertainment and little interesting conversation. Most of the guys drank to excess and looked like it.

I eventually realized that I was going to be like that if I didn't get out of it. A mindless drunk.

Sadly, I still became one. :D

Re: The mining boom......
 

Heaven forbid. Just let the mining industry snap everything up like locusts, leave holes in the ground and use all the cheap labour they need Gina Rhineheart soaking up $50 million a day on the basis that Lang Hancock staked a claim over ancient aboriginal land. A resource thats been sitting their for millions of years making a few people rich before dissapearing in 50.

An industry that treats its staff with contempt withers and dies. South Africa probably the greatest holder of natural mineral reserves has even woken up to that. The WA mining industry resembles pre-apartheid south africa more and more everyday. I remember when my gramp got offered a job down in South Africa back in the 70s. But then he heard the stories of black miners tossed to one side if they suffered an injury and left to die. What of the fate of the cheap imported labour slaphead? Or doesn't that matter when there is a fast few quid to be made for the Hancocks of this world?

Re: The mining boom......
 

I don't know how long you have been in Australia, but I have been here 26 years now, and I woke for ten long years in the resources area.

The unions here are just arseholes. They are not interested in the"workers" but like that twat Craig Thompson they are out for themselves - take Greg Combet as another example - OR they use the union power to push political agendas.

They consistently shag every opportunity Australia has, and just keep on doing it. The CFMEU in the Bowen Basin is just another example of how these maffia like goons operate.

The mines are happy to pay good money. What they want is freedom from politics and outside interference, and they don't get they when the unions are involved.

you want a job in the mines - DONT have a background in a unionized industry....

Re: The mining boom......
 

Slaphead I'm actually writing this from the UK. I spent time in Australia a few years back and I'm married to an Australian girl. We may return at some point, but at the moment we're happy with our lot here, but I take an interest and the impact the Australian mining industry is having on the australian economy fascinates me. Its unprecedented in an advanced nation in the modern era.

I don't doubt much of what you say re union, but when you're backing a horse as deeply as Aussie's GDP is backing the mining oligarchs you've got have some control, because those boys will switch off the lights and say good night Vienna if and when it suits them to do so.

When I read some of the posts on here re: Australian economy I wince. Australia always had a relatively journeyman economy, which has served it well. The mining boom has knocked everything out of kilta. 10-15% of Ausralia economy could be reliant on mining right now. What happens if there is a 25% drop off in resources demand thats 3% off the australian economy right there, not to mention the fall out in australian banking and services another 5%. Thats Greek proportions.

You advocate letting a few hundred people dictate any terms they want, to the rest of the economy who suddenly find themselves uncompetitive:

"First rule of Economics 101: our desires are insatiable. Second rule: we can stomach only three Big Macs at a time.

Re: The mining boom......
 

I disagree with a couple of points you make, although I agree with the sentiment.

1. The big mines will close when they want, irrespective of unions or governments. Goodnight Vienna indeed.

Having a unionized workforce won't help, any more than Red Robbo helped Leyland in the 1970s. - According to the BBC, "between 1978 and 1979 Mr Robinson was credited with causing 523 walk-outs at Longbridge, costing an estimated £200m in lost production".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_R...trade_unionist)


2. Virtually the whole country is bottom feeding off the mining boom right now. The shopgirl in a dress shop sells a dress to a secretary in a food company who supplies food to the guy who makes the bolts that holds together a bit of the mine. Its a giant food chain.

In the late 80s I took the controls of the giant coal loader at Gladstone. This fed coal into the waiting ships to take it to Japan. They let me hold the controls under supervision, a bit like taking the wheel of a 747!

The manager said to me - "don't break it, 6% of Australia's GDP goes through those two black handles in your hands".......

Back in Sydney everyone was sipping Chardoney, driving BMWs, and it was being paid for by the coal flowing though those two levers.......

We have been beholden to mining for a long time.

Re: The mining boom......
 

I also disagree about the "Greek proportions".

Greece is a disaster of EPIC proportions that is going to bring Europe to its knees - and that includes the UK.

I have repeatedly commented on it, and has stupid answers like "we will just muddle through"

you won't muddle through. Its heading towards the nightmare scenario i predicted, right down to massive migration of economic refugees to the UK. Yesterday the Home Secretary, Theresa May, said ''work is ongoing'' to restrict European immigration in the event of a financial collapse.

For months now secret talks have been going on to try to stabilize Europe when Greece collapses.

Australia has an exposure to the mining industry. The UK and the rest of Europe have political, financial and cultural ties to a living nightmare that looms ever faster.

Re: The mining boom......
 

They will "muddle through" but only because they have no other real options.

It's going to get damn ugly and damn painful. The current recession in the UK has already lasted longer than the Great Depression and they won't be getting out of it anytime soon.
The best they can hope for now, is that Greece walks from the Euro and possibly the whole EU, and that the whole lot doesn't come crashing down around their ears.

Re: The mining boom......
 

Yes, and who follows Greece into bankruptcy. The problem is that it wont likely stop at Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy..etc... Most likely will infect all modern economies. By the way, no easy exit for Germany with or without the Euro.

Re: The mining boom......
 

True, the problem isn't so much the countries defaulting on their debts it's the trillions of dollars in over the counter derivatives (side bets, made on countries treasuries) that will have to be paid out, except they won't be because the counterparty will be bankrupt. It will bring the entire global financial system to its knees.

Re: The mining boom......
 

My grandparents lived though the Great Depression. They did it hard, but all of them said others did it much harder.

A great uncle who had returned from WW1 with a Military Cross for valor took out his old service revolver and ended his life over it. Poor bugger.

I think the idea that we will muddle through is a bit like saying the Jews had a bit of a rough time in WW2.

I think no one alive now has any idea of how tough its going to get - and I include Australia in that. And its going to happen, like it or not.

Re: The mining boom......
 

True

Re: The mining boom......
 

Scary but true. God I wish I were 20. Not ready for what the future may bring. No excuses my fault really.:o

Re: The mining boom......
 

and the worst part is Australia probably could get through it relatively unscathed. It is pretty self reliant on food and water, people will still need coal and gas so it will still get an income. However the current govt seems hellbent on ruining what is a once in a century opportunity with it's crazy politics.