enoggera asked [how are mining royalties calculated?] Royalties are State based - there is no fixed formula/percentage Most States spend money on "Govt geology & geophysics" maps and surveys to promote mineral exploration in their State so in part royalties are cost recovery. But most States have solid minerals n metals Annual Income from mining developments some of which date back a century. Most mineral exploration fails but reports are lodged and available to future explorers. So in most cases when an orebody is discovered now that could be mined there may well be years of mineral exploration costs to be written off tax-wise.But of course the mineral exploration and possible mine add to expenditure & employment, numbers at schools etc in rural & remote areas, so taxes are helped that way. Have we all seen lines of empty shops in country towns? Right now GreenAlboLabor hate coal and gas. But taking say NSW & Qld coal brings great prosperity - so they have to grit their teeth and put up with the stellar coal prices n exports now. Most Oz States and regions are replete with natural gas but Green, Red & Black tape keeps much in the ground. NSW for example has been funding the EDO which wages lawfare on gas - for example Santos Narrabri discovery locked in for half a decade now.You could not begin to make up the stupidity - outa time for now
