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oPInIon

I don’t think it’s overstating things to say that Western

Australia’s economic results since the start of 2020

have been quite out of the ordinary.

hile many economies around the sically non-existent, many have worked tions contribute to communities around
Wworld – and, indeed, right here in longer swings and spent more time away WA. That total contribution from 65 CME
Australia – are still strongly feeling the from family than they would normally do. member companies was $52 billion in
impacts of COVID-19, WA was recently Thousands of workers who commuted WA, including wages, government pay-
able to declare a State Budget surplus of regularly from interstate pre-COVID ments, business purchases and support
more than $5 billion. have now moved to WA, if not perma- for community organisations.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy nently then for the duration of the pan- But as a sector, we very much realise
of WA (CME) and its member companies demic. that it’s a two-way street. Without the
are extremely proud of the contribution The sector continues to place the workers we pay those wages to, the lo-
that the mining and resources sector highest priority on the health and safety cal governments we collaborate with, the
was able to make to that result. of its workforce and this resolve has only local businesses who supply goods and
To contribute more than $12.7 bil- hardened in the face of the pandemic services to operations and the groups
lion in royalties, North West who do so much within commu-
Shelf grants and lease rentals nities, our sector could not pos-
to State Government revenue sibly function and succeed the
underscores the importance of way it has.
our sector to the WA economy. Back in July, we noted that
That was about $3.5 billion there was unlikely to be a single
more than our previous record community in WA that isn’t some-
contribution of 2019-20 and how impacted or influenced by
made mining and resources the mining and resources sector.
the single biggest contributor But the reverse is true as well.
to revenue, ahead of taxes and There is no mining and resourc-
Commonwealth grants. es operation in the State that isn’t
Meanwhile, the latest data somehow shaped by the commu-
from the Department of Mines, nity around it (and beyond).
Industry Regulation and Safety By way of example while the
shows minerals and petroleum all-industry average for engage-
sales of $210 billion in 2020-21, ment of indigenous employees
along with exploration spending in the workforce was 1.9% in
of $2.1 billion and support for a 2019, in the resource sector it
record 149,400 jobs in the sec- was 4.7%, reflecting the popu-
tor. lation characteristics in many of
In part this reflects WA’s the regions where our operations
strong reserves of resources are located. These numbers
that are in high global demand, are growing and this is a trend
amid some very healthy com- the sector is looking to build on
modity prices. through commitments to train-
It also reflects the sector’s eeship and apprenticeship pro-
ability to operate safely and effectively and more recently the Delta strain. We grammes, and by continuing to promote
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It welcome the WA Government’s recent opportunities for residential employment
has taken a great deal of collaboration announcement of mandatory vaccina- wherever possible.
between our sector, government, health tions for mining and resources sector That’s why the $12.7 billion contribu-
authorities, police, aviation and port workers. tion to WA Government revenue in 2020-
partners but ultimately, we’ve been able Our member companies are active 21 reflects so much more than the sum
to continue operating relatively seam- participants in the drive to “roll up for total of production at operations around
lessly at a time when the world very WA” and national efforts to promote the State.
much wants what WA is producing. vaccine uptake and assist with logistics
Most of all though, it reflects the efforts - making it accessible to our employees Adrienne LaBombard is CME’s
of the sector’s workforce and the support and in the regional communities where Manager – Industry Competitiveness
of the communities in which we operate. we operate. Newly established vaccina-
Mining and resources workers in WA tion centres being run by CME member
have made some significant sacrifices companies are a key part of this.
over the past 18 months. When CME released its annual eco-
With interstate travel severely restrict- nomic fact sheet data in July, it highlight-
ed at times and international travel ba- ed the way mining and resources opera-

Page 12 NOVeMBeR 2021 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT