>> Certainly not in terms of employment or taxes. You're right on both fronts, the mining companies are automating everything they can and whole political part

>> Certainly not in terms of employment or taxes. You're right on both fronts, the mining companies are automating everything they can and whole political parties were formed to take an axe to the minerals resource rent tax! However in terms of exports, Minerals/Ores/Gems/Metals accounted for 64.4% of Australia's top 10 exports in 2018. Australia’s top 10 exports accounted about three-quarters (79.5%) of the overall value of its global shipments. [1]. [1] http://www.worldstopexports.com/australias-top-10-exports/ http://www.worldstopexports.com/australias-top-10-exports/