The Australian Mining Industry Council, 1967–75

Abstract

As the long boom that followed the Second World War ended in inflation, unemployment and exchange rate instability, business peak associations became more active on a range of policy issues. Industries that had not seen value in such forms of political organisation in the past established them. Australian mining companies created the Australian Mining Industry Council (AMIC) to lobby the government over changes in the exchange rate, wages and budgetary policy, foreign investment guidelines and tariffs on imports of machinery and raw materials. In this the AMIC was often drawn into conflicts with manufacturer organisations that represented industries catering for the domestic market, whereas mining companies relied heavily on foreign investment and export sales. The AMIC was also very active in opposing attempts by government to interfere in the contractual negotiations between mining companies and overseas buyers of minerals and metals. Apart from economic policy issues, the mining industry faced challenges from the environmental movement and indigenous Aboriginal claims for land rights that placed barriers in the way of easy access to deposits. These challenges required innovative and flexible industry-wide approaches to influence government legislation and public opinion.