Higher education in Northern Australia : the impact of the minerals boom

Since 2002, one of the primary drivers of economic growth in Australia has been an export-driven minerals boom. The focus of this minerals boom has been increased mining and minerals processing activity in regional areas of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, resulting in the value of mineral exports from these states doubling between 2004 and 2008. Despite the current economic slow down, the long-term growth prospects of countries such as China and India indicate that this mining-based growth is likely to continue and be a key factor in many regional economies within Australia for the foreseeable future.