Australia. Mining and Manufacturing

Mining has long been a cornerstone of economic development in Australia. However, manufacturing has also come to play an important part. In the mid-1980's, mining accounted for 30 per cent of the nation's total exports, compared with about 25 per cent for manufacturing. While mining employs only2 per cent of Australia's labor force, manufacturing employs 1 6 per cent. Mining also accounts for only 7 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product (GDP)—the total value of goods and services produced within the country in one year. Manufacturing accounts for 19 per cent of the GDP.

Mineral wealth. Australia has become one of the world's major mining countries, ranking first in the production of bauxite, diamonds, and lead. The nation is also a leading producer of coal, copper, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, silver, tin, titanium, tungsten, zinc, and zircon. Nearly all the world's high-quality opals are mined in Australia.

The continent's energy-producing resources are among the richest in the world. Australia has enough coal and natural gas to meet all its energy needs. It has large reserves of brown and black coal, which are used to produce Australia's electricity. Black coal is exported in large quantities. Also, Australia's oil wells produce enough crude oil to meet almost all of the nation's needs.

However, many of Australia's mineral deposits lie in the country's dry areas, far from major settlements. Such deposits are extremely expensive to mine. Roads and railroads to the mining sites must be constructed, and towns must be built for the miners and their families. The costs of mining development in Australia are so high that the mining industry depends heavily on support from foreign investors.

Australia's abundance of deposits makes it one of the world's major mining countries. The country is almost self-sufficient in minerals but relies heavily on foreign investors to pay the costs of mining

Manufacturing power. After World War II (1939-1945), the Australian government determined that its industry should become self-sufficient, and that at least one brand of automobile must be made entirely in Australia—including the engine and parts. Australia today produces most of its own metals, such as iron and steel, for local industrial use.

But unlike most other developed countries, Australia still imports more manufactured goods than it exports. Australian factories produce most of the nation's consumer goods, such as processed foods and household articles. But many producer good-S, such as factory machinery and construction equipment, must be imported. Iron and steel are the chief exceptions.

Highly mechanized coal mines art- a common sight in New South Wales. The major markets for coal produced in the state are local power stations, the iron and steel industry, and export trade to such countries as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan

Most of Australia's factories specialize in assembly work and light manufacturing, and many plants process farm products or minerals for export. Automobiles, chemicals, household appliances, metals, paper, processed foods, and textiles are among Australia's leading products. New South Wales and Victoria are the chief manufacturing states, with most factories located in and around Sydney and Melbourne.