The Economic Impact of the Mining Boom on Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians

Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, Volume 2, Issue 3, pages 517-530, September 2015

Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University

14 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2016

See all articles by Boyd H. Hunter

Boyd H. Hunter

Australian National University

Monica Howlett

University of California, Berkeley

Matthew Gray

Australian National University (ANU) - Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR)

Date Written: August 17, 2015

Abstract

Many mining operations are on or near Indigenous land, and the strong level of investment during the recent mining boom may have disproportionately affected Indigenous communities. This article examines changes in local Indigenous employment, income and housing costs to identify any localised ‘resource curse’ for Indigenous communities and the Australian population at large. Census data are used to show the mining boom has improved employment and income outcomes, but increased average housing costs. While the average increase in income has generally offset the increase in costs, housing stress for low-income households has increased as a result of the mining boom.

Keywords: mining boom, indigenous employment, income, housing stress, resource curse

Suggested Citation

Hunter, Boyd and Howlett, Monica and Gray, Matthew, The Economic Impact of the Mining Boom on Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians (August 17, 2015). Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, Volume 2, Issue 3, pages 517-530, September 2015, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2759024

Boyd Hunter (Contact Author)

Australian National University ( email )

Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research
Building 21, Hanna Neumann Building
Canberra ACT 0200
Australia
58207 6125 8207 (Phone)

Monica Howlett

University of California, Berkeley ( email )

310 Barrows Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
United States

Matthew Gray

Australian National University (ANU) - Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

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