PERTH (miningweekly.com) – An annual survey into the Western Australian resources sector has found that the state’s mining, energy and contractor industries contributed a direct A$98.98-billion to Australia’s economy in 2021/22 and directly employed more than 69 000 Australians full-time.

The survey was undertaken by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) and saw 71 member companies contribute. The data collected covers more than 100 operational sites and a dozen commodities across the state, representing 83% of the state’s resources sector by production.

CME CEO Rebecca Tomkinson said the data provided a telling snapshot of the day-to-day impact of the Western Australian mining and resources sector to economies and communities across the country.

“It’s remarkable to see the efforts of an entire industry over a year boiled down to just the raw numbers. Whichever way you look at the figures, the contribution that our industry makes to both Western Australia and the nation is enormous,” Tomkinson said.

“It should also be noted that these results come hot on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic at its height of daily new confirmed cases, and this economic contribution data reflects the immense efforts undertaken by the industry to adapt and operate under unprecedented and challenging conditions.

“The results of this survey capture about 83% of our members’ direct contribution, however, the ‘total’ sector-wide figure to the broader economy is likely to be well in excess of the A$99-billion figure.”

The direct contribution by the 71 CME member companies to the Western Australian economy was more than A$57-billion, and more than A$47-billion was spent by the companies on purchasing goods and services from about 14 000 businesses, and financially supporting more than 1 000 community organisations and 75 local governments across Australia.

The survey found that more than A$10.7-billion in wages and salaries was paid to more than 69 200 full-time Australian workers. These member companies also employed a further 19 502 full-time on-site contractors.

About A$11.7-billion was contributed in state government payments, with more than A$28.9-billion contributed to the federal government in taxes.

The analysis also found supply chain spending by the 71 companies created an additional 493 235 full-time jobs and A$78.37-billion in gross value add to the Australian economy. Some of this value add is created through the sector’s demand for construction, exploration, mining support, financial and other goods and professional services.

It is estimated through all this activity, these companies helped contribute to 7.7% of gross regional product to Australia’s economy.

“Both the direct and indirect contributions of CME’s member companies spread far and wide throughout communities around Western Australia and, indeed, across Australia,” Tomkinson said on Monday.

“With more than A$148-billion of projects under development or proposed in the Western Australian resources sector pipeline, these types of contributions should continue to flow as projects kick off and operate business-as-usual.

“We’re also watching closely as economies around the world increase their uptake of digital technologies and continue their efforts to decarbonise and transition to net zero emissions - a movement which Western Australia in particular stands to enormously benefit from thanks to our abundance of critical minerals.”