agreed and coastal mines with existing infrastructure which heavily supports a mining dominated economy further supports oz ... of course the fair work labour practices of the country do increase the labour cost component, but also improve the standard of living for the citizens who have been blessed with an abundance of natural resources ... mining is dangerous and physically demanding work, environmental conditions such as extreme winter and its cost/cause of limitation of the mining season also would make me look for better alternatives, but hey thats just one new aussie's opinion.