Howard Guille: ‘The social failure of mining’
Howard Guille’s paper, presented to the TJRyan Foundation / QCU seminar ‘Jobs of the future in an uncertain environment’ in September 2016, opens:
‘The history of mining, in Australia and elsewhere, is of often-dramatic industrial, political and environmental conflicts. Such conflicts continue. The theme of this presentation is that the conflicts amount to the social failure of mining. The public economic benefit is inadequate, environmental damage is severe and the industry shows profound disrespect for First Peoples. These apply to all mining; in addition, coal, oil and gas contribute to unsustainable climate change.
‘It is perhaps too late to do much about the social failures of mining in Queensland and Australia. However, the policy and institutional defects that have allowed it should be changed. The ‘new industries’, including large-renewable energy and science-based ones under the Advance Queensland policies, must be under public control and provide unequivocal public benefits. This is essential to a ‘just transition’ from fossil fuels.’
- The social failure of mining – Howard Guille »
- ‘Be careful what you wish for’, The Australia Institute »
TAI: ‘The mining construction boom and regional jobs in Queensland’
Mark Ogge, of The Australia Institute, presented a paper (co-authored with Tom Swann) on the mining boom and regional jobs in Queensland.
‘The mining construction boom did not result in a regional jobs boom in Queensland. Unprecedented investment saw regional jobs growth stagnate and fall. While the boom created some jobs directly, it also undermined other industries.’