Mining Boom: A Blessing or Curse

Many mining operations are on or near Indigenous land, and the strong level of investment during the recent mining boom may have dis-proportionately 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 generall