The Difference Australian Mining Makes | Jobs, Healthcare & Communities

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The difference Australian mining makes

According to the latest government data, the mining industry paid $74 billion in tax and royalties in one year.

This includes company tax paid to the Australian Government and royalties paid to states and territories.

More than any other industry. Enough to fund Medicare.

Source: Treasury, Budget 2023-24, Budget Paper No. 1: Budget Strategy and Outlook, Table 6.8: Summary of expenses – health, released 30 September 2024. Statement 6: Expenses and Net Capital Investment, page 210.

The Facts

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Australian mining is Australia’s largest taxpayer by industry, and accounts for 30 per cent of all company taxes.

Australian mining has paid more than $356 billion in taxes over the past decade (2013-14 to 2022-23).

Source: EY, Royalty and Company Tax Payments, released May 20, 2025.

$74 billion in tax and royalties for Australia in one year (2022-23).

In 2023-24, Australia’s resources sector is estimated to have directly spent $275.5 billion in the economy.

Source: Lawrence Consulting, Australian Resource Sector Economic Contribution Study 2023-24, released July 2025.

290,100 jobs and about 11,000 apprentices employed by the mining sector (2024-25).

Source: ABS, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Table 06, Employed persons by Industry sub-division of main job (ANZSIC) and Sex, released 18 December 2025. National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) VOCSTATS, National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, updated 17 December 2025.

For every job in mining, 6 extra jobs are created in related industries.

Source: ATO, Taxation Statistics 2022-23: Company – Table 4 (Selected items, by industry, 2022-23 Income Year). Updated December 9, 2025
EY, Royalty and Company Tax Payments. Released May 20, 2025

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Supporting healthcare

Australian mining makes a difference by helping fund healthcare for Australians, when they need it.

From public hospitals to aged care, mental health services and everyday medical technology, mining plays an important role:

  • Helping to fund new hospitals, regional health facilities, and upgrades to existing infrastructure
  • Supplying materials — copper, silver, gold, rare earths and other minerals are essential for:
  • MRI and X-ray machines
  • Heart monitors
  • Digital health technology
  • Surgical tools
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Supporting healthcare

Supporting education

Australian mining makes a difference by helping students today and building skills for tomorrow.

Mining taxes and royalties help fund schools, training, and future careers.

  • Better funded public schools
  • Training programs and TAFEs
  • About 11,000 apprentices supported by the sector
  • Scholarships and STEM initiatives in regional Australia

Mining isn’t just powering industry – it’s helping power the next generation.

Source: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) VOCSTATS, National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, updated 17 December 2025.

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Supporting education

Supporting jobs

Australian mining makes a difference through jobs, skills and opportunity.

  • Australian mining employs more than 290,000 people and provides about 11,000 apprenticeships and traineeships
  • Mining also creates jobs through supply chains and related industries, totaling around 1.25 million jobs across the country

Helping build secure livelihoods for Australians. That’s the difference Australian mining makes.

Source: ABS, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Table 06, Employed persons by Industry sub-division of main job (ANZSIC) and Sex, released 18 December 2025. National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) VOCSTATS, National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, updated 17 December 2025.

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Supporting jobs

Supporting communities

Australian mining makes a difference by investing in local communities.

  • Australian mining plays a significant role in strengthening communities, particularly in regional Australia
  • Last year, more than $660 million was invested in regional programs, including sporting groups, environmental conservation, emergency health services, childcare, and community organisations

Helping keep regional towns and families thriving. That’s the difference Australian mining makes.

Source: Lawrence Consulting, Australian Resource Sector Economic Contribution Study 2023-24, released July 2025.

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Supporting communities

Question 1/5

How many overall jobs does the Australian mining industry support?
Source: Deloitte Access Economics, Economic Contribution of the Mining and METS sector 2024, May 2025

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Community Feedback

Join the conversation about Australian mining

SO Steve O

"Mining is not an inexpensive exercise."

TJ Tom J

"Expected more, but still a considerable contribution."

TS Trevor S

"Good to get some facts out. If it wasn’t for the mining industry this spendthrift country would be in terrible trouble."

RH Rhonda H

"Australia’s political class & society in general need to support our mining & resources sector … we are so fortunate to have the resources we do …"

KF Kristen F

"Maybe we should be looking at the government and asking where the $74 billion has gone"

TP Tim P

"Good luck running a society with no minerals"

BP Banshi P

"I agree and always support "

LJ Lee J

"Thank god for mining or no one would live in half these towns as mining is the only well paid job and that supports a lot of these country towns"

PM Poppy M

"Wait till Labor and the Greens ban mining where does the money come from then?"

RT Ray T

"If it were not for mining, Australia would be an economic basket case. Anyone disagree?"

MS Marion S

"like all taxes the government decides to put on everything - it won't generate any revenue if the company can't afford to continue working in Australia. Just look at what has happened with the tobacco tax - the government created the black market and now spends millions of tax payer dollars to try to contain it. Mining will be the same. The companies will leave Australia and go to other countries with fairer taxes and then there won't be any revenue at all. so there will be another black hole in the revenue budget."

AL Ann L

"That is why this country is wealthy. Let’s not forget how we became the lucky country. The Prime Minister must understand this."

SP Steve P

"But the government and greenies want to shut them all down."

CR Charles R

"So where are they going to get their tax from when they close all the mines down."

RG Russell G

"Yep we need our mining"

JW John W

"How about all the jobs the mines make plus a large indirect number of jobs. All these job holders pay income tax to the government . You just cannot judge a mining company on their profit without understanding how much they contribute to the economy by buying goods and services aside from the taxes they pay."

AP Andy P

"Mining pays more tax than the oil & gas industry."

MB Michel B

"Remember that those minerals have no value while in the ground. The real value is added during extraction, processing and transportation. All that involves risk, not by the government or the people (that receive the taxes without doing much), but by companies that bring capital and knowhow. The biggest added value is in the latter."

GC Glenn C

"We'd be rooted without mining"

Your questions answered

According to the latest government data, the mining industry paid $74 billion in tax and royalties in the 2022–23 financial year. This includes $42.3 billion in company tax paid to the Australian Government and $31.5 billion in royalties paid to states and territories.

Source: ATO, Taxation Statistics 2022-23: Company – Table 4 (Selected items, by industry, 2022-23 Income Year). Updated December 9, 2025.
EY, Royalty and Company Tax Payments. Released May 20, 2025

$74 billion in company taxes and royalties helps pay for services we all rely on including hospitals, schools, aged care, roads, childcare, police, defence, and regional services.

To put it in perspective, the company tax contributions alone are enough to fund Medicare for a full year.

In the same year mining paid over $42.3 billion in company taxes, the Medicare budget was up to $37 billion.

Treasury, Budget 2023-24, Budget Paper No. 1: Budget Strategy and Outlook, Table 6.8: Summary of expenses – health, released 30 September 2024. Statement 6: Expenses and Net Capital Investment, page 210.

Company tax: Paid on business profits to the Australian Government.

Royalties: Paid to state and territory governments for the right to extract minerals.

Combined, these payments form the industry’s total contribution to Federal and state revenue.

No. Almost all mining companies pay the same 30 per cent company tax rate as other businesses, and unlike most industries, they also pay billions in royalties.

Mining provides highly-skilled, highly-paid, long-term jobs, especially in regional areas.

It supports thousands of small businesses from tradies, truck drivers and engineering firms to cafes, retail and local service providers.

Mining companies also invest in community infrastructure, training, emergency services and local programs.

A strong mining sector helps fund essential infrastructure and public services without increasing pressure on households. When mining revenue is strong, it takes the pressure of the government’s budget bottom-line.