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    BACKGROUND NOTE  23 September 2010 The Australian Resources Sector—its contribution to the  nation, and a brief review of issues and impacts  Michael Roarty  Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Section  Contents  Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1  The Resources Sector ............................................................................................................................... 1  The minerals industry ......................................................................................................................... 1  Australia’s minerals distribution .................................................................................................... 2  The oil and natural gas industries ....................................................................................................... 3  Oil ................................................................................................................................................... 3  Natural gas ..................................................................................................................................... 4  Key benefits of the resources sector ....................................................................................................... 4  Economic Benefits .............................................................................................................................. 5  Contribution to Exports ................................................................................................................. 5  Contribution to gross domestic product and employment ........................................................... 8  Investment and New Projects ....................................................................................................... 9  Rural and regional development ...................................................................................................... 10  Technological development and environmental research ............................................................... 10  Emerging and ongoing issues ................................................................................................................. 11  Resource Tax Issues .......................................................................................................................... 11  Climate change ................................................................................................................................. 12  Infrastructure planning ..................................................................................................................... 12  Sustainability ..................................................................................................................................... 13  Environmental performance ............................................................................................................. 13         Health and safety .............................................................................................................................. 14  Indigenous involvement ................................................................................................................... 14  Value adding ..................................................................................................................................... 14  Competing land uses ......................................................................................................................... 15  Overseas ownership ......................................................................................................................... 15  Concluding comments ........................................................................................................................... 16    Table   Table 1: State Industry Gross Value Added (GVA), Mining, 2008-09 ...................................................... 9    Figures  Figure 1: Australia’s major commodity export earnings .......................................................................... 6  Figure 2: Composition of Australian Mineral and Petroleum Exports ..................................................... 8           

Parliamentary library briefing book: Key Issues for the 43rd Parliament Page | 38 Page | 39 Population and infrastructure balancing the impacts of urban development for an expanding population gives rise to issues of energy use, land availability, transport systems and infrastructure planning. Planning infrastructure: an urban myth? the past

Parliamentary library briefing book: Key Issues for the 43rd Parliament Page | 50 Page | 51 environment and energy Current policy under the current r enewable energy t arget ( ret) scheme, a ustralia will be generating at least 20 per cent of its electricity from a variety of renewable

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 Iran's first nuclear power plant: a proliferation threat? On 21 August 2010, Russian engineers began loading fuel into the Bushehr nuclear reactor in southern Iran. Once the start-up is complete, Bushehr will be the first operational nuclear power plant in the Middle East. Construction of two nuclear

AUGUST 19, 2010 Carbon Farming Initiative to fill a policy gap The Government has announced that if re-elected it will introduce a new regime for landholders, the Carbon Farming Initiative. This will encourage farmers to either minimise carbon emissions or maximise carbon sequestration by altering their forestry and agricultural practices.

Parliament of Australia Department of Parliamentary Services Parliamentary Library Information, analysis and advice for the Parliament BILLS DIGEST www.aph.gov.au/library 17 June 2010, no. 182, 2009-10, ISSN 1328-8091 Corporations Amendment (Sons of Gwalia) Bill 2010 Morag Donaldson Law and Bills Digest Section Contents Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Background ................................................................................................................................. 2 Decision in

Parliament of Australia Department of Parliamentary Services Parliamentary Library Information, analysis and advice for the Parliament BILLS DIGEST www.aph.gov.au/library 16 June 2010, no. 180, 2009-10, ISSN 1328-8091 Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Small-scale Technology Shortfall Charge) Bill 2010 Anita Talberg Science, Technology, Environment and Resources Section Juli Tomaras Law and Bills Digest

Parliament of Australia Department of Parliamentary Services Parliamentary Library Information, analysis and advice for the Parliament BILLS DIGEST www.aph.gov.au/library 15 June 2010, no. 172, 2009-10, ISSN 1328-8091 Excise Tariff Amendment (Aviation Fuel) Bill 2010 Moira Coombs Law and Bills Digest Section Contents Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Background ................................................................................................................................. 2 Flight Path