Ann: Mineral Resource Upgrade, page-442

We may have the raw material ingredients in spades but our labour costs are many times higher than in China and other competitive countries. FMG and other Pilbara players have learnt that through automation they can reduce their costs and remain competitive.

Imo, we will only return to manufacturing in a big way (incl steel making) if we can reduce labour requirements by utilisation of a highly automated process. Time will tell if someone can come up with such a plan and navigate the unions demands to make it work. I hope so for the next generations sake but it will be a mammoth challenge to pull it off.