MEDIA RELEASE
April 4, 2007	Embargoed 11:30am (AEDT)	36/2007
WA profits from its resources and survives drought pressure: ABS

WA resources industry profits in 2004-05 accounted for over one-third (35%) of total WA industry profits (excluding agriculture, forestry and fishing, and finance and insurance), according to an industry snapshot released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Resource profits rose by 71% between 2001-02 and 2004-05, in contrast to the 1990s where the industry was under pressure from falling prices.

Resources contributed over $3 billion in royalties in 2005-06, with just over half (54%) going to the WA Government and the remainder going to the Commonwealth.

Part-time employment in the state's resource industry grew by almost three times the rate of full-time employment, up by nearly 3,000 people (2,925 or 156%) to 4,800 people between 2001-02 and 2005-06.

WA survives drought pressure

Despite two severe droughts, the value of agriculture production in WA increased almost 20% between 2000-01 and 2004-05.

WA's contribution to total Australian agriculture production rose during this time from 12.8% to 14.4%.

However, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) has forecast decreases in WA's grain production for 2006–07 due to the impact of the 2006 drought.

More information is in Western Australia Statistical Indicators, March 2007 (cat. no.1367.5).