8401.0 - Mining, Electricity and Gas Operations, Australia, Preliminary, 1996-97  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/01/1998   
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MEDIA RELEASE

January 22, 1998
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
7/98

Turnover in mining up, electricity and gas down

Mining industry turnover reported a 5 per cent increase in 1996-97, while the electricity and gas industries recorded decreases of 3 per cent and 7 per cent respectively, according to a preliminary report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The preliminary report showed that the mining industry recorded a turnover of $32,527 million in 1996-97, a 5 per cent increase from 1995-96. The copper industry recorded the highest increase with a 21 per cent increase while the bauxite mining industry recorded the only decrease of 7 per cent. Coal mining continued to provide the largest contribution (31 per cent) to total turnover for the industry.

Western Australia provided the greatest (43 per cent) contribution to total turnover in the mining industry, while Tasmania and New South Wales recorded the largest percentage increases in turnover, 14 per cent, and 9 per cent respectively.

Employment in the mining industry fell by 0.3 per cent in 1996-97 to 56,386, following a 3 per cent increase in 1995-96. The copper ore mining industry showed the greatest percentage increase in employment, rising 7 per cent during 1996-97 to 2,664 persons. Employment in the oil and gas extraction industry fell by 16 per cent to 3,567 persons.

The coal mining industry remained as the largest employer in 1996-97, accounting for 46 per cent of all mining employees. The other major employers were gold ore mining industry (14 per cent) and iron ore mining industry (11 per cent).

Turnover in the electricity industry decreased by 3 per cent from $21,053 million in 1995-96 to $20,324 million in 1996-97 as a consequence of restructuring which resulted in lower prices for electricity. The largest decreases in turnover occurred in New South Wales, down 9 per cent, and Victoria, down 7 per cent, while the largest increase occurred in Western Australia, up 7 per cent.

Employment in the electricity industry decreased by 7 per cent to 35,465. It fell in all States with New South Wales and Victoria having the largest decreases of 10 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.

Turnover in the gas industry decreased by 7 per cent from $2,886 million in 1995-96 to $2,679 million in 1996-97. Employment fell by 2 per cent to 4,948 during 1996-97.

Details are in Mining, Electricity and Gas Operations, Australia, Preliminary, 1996-97 (cat. no. 8401.0), available from ABS bookshops.