- Native Title -

Government, land claimants and mining industry have signed an agreement which should allow 93 mining exploration permits to proceed - though 900 are still held up. Industry has been crippled for two years. Queensland has had a significant drop (from 20% to 11%) in its share of Australia's exploration spending (Strutt S. 'land use agreement to relieve Queensland's mining backlog', Financial review, 14/9/01) (see also Mineral exploration)

'A deal being hammered out in Mt Isa could end a five year native title stalemate that has crippled the Queensland mining industry', Mc Carthy J. 'Land pact to end mining deadlock', Courier Mail, 20/7/01) [See also Resource / Industry Investment]