To listen to the Coalition, one would think that mining and agriculture run this country but the reality is completely different.
According to the government’s 2016 Australian Industry Report, their combined contribution is less than 10% of GDP.
Services: 61.1%
Construction: 8.1%
Mining: 6.9%
Manufacturing: 6.0%
Agriculture: 2.2%
If we look at employment, you have to go a long way down the list before we get to agriculture or mining. According to the 2016 census, they, together, employ just over 4% of the labour force.
Health Care and Social Assistance 1,351,023
Retail Trade 1,053,819
Education and Training 925,893
Construction 911,057
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 775,985
Accommodation and Food Services 738,234
Public Administration and Safety 713,141
Manufacturing 683,688
Transport, Postal and Warehousing 499,485
Financial and Insurance Services 384,603
Administrative and Support Services 365,735
Wholesale trade 307,742
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 266,943
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 182,142
Information Media and Telecommunications 179,534
Mining 177,649
Arts and Recreation Services 176,659
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 115,767
Regardless of what Matt Canavan says, the government’s own report states that “The economy continues to transition away from resources.”
When the Coalition, to appease their clients, say we must provide subsidies and wind back our environmental protections and “red tape” for miners and farmers for the sake of economic growth and jobs, they are ignoring the facts.
So what’s new?
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