>Just so all you know in America, our new Prime Minister was part of the "Socialist Forum" http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/why_hasnt_gillard_been_honest
>
>>>I will NEVER forgive the Labor Party for what they have done to the future of this country, ever.
>>>
>>>I have some sympathy with what you are saying. ;-) However, Australia's buried wealth represents a nest egg worth millions of $ per citizen. You are unbelievably wealthy and can dig, dig, dig to get yourselves out of almost any conceivable mess. By way of comparison, for every $1 of equivalent resource value in NZ per citizen, Australia has at least $50 and there is a lot more of you. You could dig half it up and *still* be hugely wealthy- as long as you make sure that the nation gets its share.
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>>This thread has drifted (as all others seem to do) so far from the original subject (thank goodness). At least for thread drift it was pretty interesting... :o)

Like many threads, she appears to have drifted. ;)

I've been following this drift and I have a question for you folks down under. In regards to the mining lands in question, are they state owned, privately owned or some combination. If privately owned, have the owners retained the mineral rights? Is that allowed there?

My opinion on excessive taxation, especially in the name of "greater good", is widely known, but I'm unfamiliar with the particulars of Aussie property rights, mineral rights and ownership.