Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Mineral industries Australia Finance'

Mining companies are large capital intensive enterprises that generally trade in the international commodity markets. The finite nature of resources and the need to maintain international competitiveness presents specific challenges to mining companies. This paper reviews the economics of mining and attempts to relate these to the strategic choices available to mining companies. To support this analysis, the work of major writers in strategic management is reviewed. The interrelationship between strategic management and economics is considered and a series of generic strategies for mining companies developed. These strategies are then compared with the actual behaviour of four major mining companies over the past decade. This analysis supports the general propositions advanced in the review of both the economics of mining and the strategic management literature. It also identifies organisational issues that impact on the effective implementation of strategy.

This dissertation examines the evolution of the mining industry in three British dominions during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Adopting a case study approach, it describes the establishment and growth of mining in Rossland, British Columbia; Broken Hill, New South Wales; and Waihi, New Zealand. Separate chapters trace developments in each area, focussing on the emergence of organised labour, the growth of mining companies and the sophistication of mining operations. These underline the need to consider diverse themes, maintaining that the mining industry's pattern of growth can be understood only by adopting such a broad approach. Following the three case studies, the final chapters of the dissertation offer a comparative analysis of Rossland, Waihi and Broken Hill. The study emphasises the similarities of these three communities, especially the cycle of growth, and identifies a crucial common denominator. Despite differences in climate, in the type and nature of the ore deposit and in the scale of mining activity, all three areas experienced a common trajectory of initial boom followed by subsequent retrenchment. The changing character of the resource base forced this fundamental alteration of productive relations. In each region, the mineral content of the ore declined as the mines went deeper. In addition, with depth the ore tended to become more difficult to treat. Faced with a decline in the value of the product of their mines, companies had to adopt sweeping changes in order to maintain profitable operations. This re-structuring was accomplished in a variety of ways, but the most significant factors, common to Rossland, Broken Hill and Waihi, were the heightened importance of applied science and economies of scale. Both developments underlined the growing importance of the mining engineer and technological innovations, principally in milling and smelting operations. In addition, new non-selective extractive techniques reduced the significance of skilled underground labour. The re-structuring of the industry not only had similar causes but also had a similar effect. The comparative chapter on labour relations, for example, argues that these managerial initiatives were closely associated with militant episodes in each community. While the leading companies in Rossland, Waihi and Broken Hill successfully reduced their working costs, they all faced the same ultimate end. Their long-term success or failure reflected the skill with which they coped with the inevitable depletion of their ore body. The common experience of Rossland, Waihi and Broken Hill demonstrates the importance of placing colonial development within a larger context. Regional historians should make greater use of the comparative approach, rather than continuing to focus on the unique and the particular.
Arts, Faculty of
History, Department of
Graduate

Thesis (MDF)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
The continent of Africa is often recognised more for its problems and conflicts than for its successes. Blessed with an abundance of natural resources, the continent has also suffered from the ‘resource curse’ with many of its troubles directly linked to resource conflicts. Project-finance provides a unique opportunity for unlocking the continent’s resources by structuring arrangements which can allay investor concerns. This report contributes to the discourse on Africa’s development by unpacking some of the key issues which will enable and fast-track future investment on the continent. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate how subjective risk analysis and decision making affect risk-based lending. Tied to this was the examination of five risk categories and how these influence the decisions of project-finance loan officers. The particular focus of this study was in the mining sector. This study reviewed a comprehensive body of the literature which found that corruption and political risk were of great influence on lenders’ perception of risk. This study also reviewed the cognitive psychology literature in order to understand how decision makers process information cues. A quantitative method was then employed in order to understand how project-finance lenders respond to project-finance risk information cues. The results of the study were that, when considering mining projects in Africa, political and market risk have significant influence on the decisions of lenders. This finding confirms that there remain key issues which must be recognised and addressed if the continent is to generate and sustain long-term wealth.

The Western Australian (WA) mining industry directly employs approximately 56,000 people. Almost half work Fly-in/Fly-out commute arrangements (FIFO, e.g. employees living in a city are flown to a remote worksite where they live and work during their work roster) and approximately half work more than 50 hours per week, on average. There are many anecdotal claims that FIFO has negative impacts on WA mining employees, leading to an elevated risk of high stress levels, depression, binge drinking, recreational drug use and relationship break-ups. Previous studies found FIFO can be stressful, and have negative impacts on WA employees 'and partners' lifestyles and relationships. This project investigated the long-term (Study One) and short-term (Study Two) impacts of FIFO and extended working hours on a representative sample of WA FIFO mining employees and partners. In Study One, a total of 222 FIFO and Daily Commute (DC) mining employees and partners completed an anonymous questionnaire investigating long-term impacts on work satisfaction, lifestyle, relationships and health. A subgroup of 32 Study One FIFO employees and partners also participated in Study Two; a detailed study of the short-term impacts of FIFO and extended working hours and how these impacts fluctuate in intensity during the mining roster. Study Two participants completed a diary and provided saliva samples each day throughout a complete mining roster. The main findings of the study were that FIFO and extended working hours had negative impacts on employees work satisfaction and FIFO was frequently reported to be disruptive to employees 'and partners' lifestyle, in the long-term. However, FIFO and extended working hours did not lead to poor quality relationships, high stress levels or poor health, on average in the long-term; there were generally no significant differences in these characteristics between FIFO and DC employees, or between the FIFO sample and the wider community. There were minor differences between FIFO and DC employees in long-term health characteristics, and Study One employees had similar, or in some cases poorer health outcomes than other community samples.

Elinor Ostrom (2005: 238) assumes that in understanding the make up and behaviour of institutional systems governing natural resources: “Resource users are explicitly thought of as rational egoists who plunder local resources so as to maximise their own short-term benefits. Government officials are implicitly depicted, on the other hand, as seeking, the more general public interest, having the relevant information at hand and the capability of designing optimal policies.” This thesis examines the validity of this assumption through an historical analysis of the deep-level gold mining industry of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. The main focus of the assessment is on the institutions of ownership – that is, the development of mining rights and title legislation between 1886 and 2008. The study looks at the legislations’ transformation and implementation from the perspective of the gold mining industry – made up of the mining finance houses and the Chamber of Mines of South Africa – and that of the state. The transformation of the mining industry’s institutional framework was both a choice by government as well as that of the firms in the mining industry. The theoretical framework is constructed from four areas of economic thought. These include: the neoclassical and Keynesian schools of macroeconomic thought; industrial organisation and its relevance to the relationship between firms and the market; institutional and new institutional economics; and finally property rights. The determinants of policy design and the impact of such design on firms and industry is examined. The development, implementation and use of the aforementioned legislation is examined from two perspectives, namely, that of preserver or exploiter. Throughout the history of this prominent South African industry, the motivation for action from the industry or government has oscillated between the two extremes of preserver or exploiter over the time period examined. The conclusion is drawn on an overall and broad focus of actions – with a strong focus on the most recent developments in mining legislation – post-1992.

El incremento significativo de proyectos mineros de las últimas décadas, particularmente en los países del Sur, ha puesto de relieve la magnitud de los impactos socio-ambientales que esta actividad conlleva. Ante esta evidencia, la industria minera, para alcanzar una licencia social para operar, ha desarrollado de forma sistemática programas de responsabilidad social corporativa en las comunidades cercanas a sus lugares de operación. Esta tesis aborda los efectos que éstas iniciativas tienen en el territorio en los que se llevan a cabo, postulando que la acción conjunta de los impactos socio-ambientales y de las acciones de responsabilidad social corporativa tienden a producir un espacio minero. La aproximación teórica utilizada fue la producción del espacio de Henry Lefebvre, estableciendo que este espacio minero se constituye a partir de las transformaciones de la naturaleza, escenario base del espacio social; las prácticas espaciales, referido a los usos y relaciones dentro del espacio; y la representación del espacio, es decir, la conceptualización, los conocimientos y saberes que se aplican al espacio y a sus elementos. La metodología utilizada para abordar la investigación fue una triangulación de métodos. Por una parte se realizó un análisis cualitativo de las acciones de responsabilidad social corporativa, que fuesen factibles de observar y de medir, correspondientes a 23 grandes yacimientos de cobre a nivel mundial para un periodo de cinco años, desde 2006 a 2010. Por otra parte, para contrarrestar la unilateralidad de los reportes de sustentabilidad, única fuente de información disponible acerca de las acciones de responsabilidad social corporativa, así como para enriquecer la interpretación de los datos, se realizó trabajo de campo. Éste consistió en observación y entrevistas semi-dirigidas a 48 personas pertenecientes a distintos ámbitos en torno a cuatro yacimientos de cobre en Chile y dos en Australia. En términos de resultados, la tesis presenta, en primer lugar, una amplia descripción de las iniciativas de responsabilidad corporativa que llevan a cabo los grandes yacimientos mineros, en este caso de cobre, en el ámbito ambiental: agua, aire, biodiversidad, energía y suelo; así como en el ámbito social: deporte, cultura y recreación, educación, educación ambiental, empleo y desarrollo productivo, grupos en situación de mayor vulnerabilidad, influencia estratégica, participación de la comunidad, patrimonio arqueológico y cultural, promoción de la minería, salud, vivienda y urbanismo, y comunidades indígenas. Esta descripción incluye las dinámicas que se generan en las comunidades a partir tanto de los impactos de la minería como de las iniciativas de responsabilidad social corporativa descritas. A partir de lo anterior, y basado en los postulados de Henry Lefebvre, la tesis propone la caracterización y el desarrollo del concepto de espacio minero, entendido éste como un espacio social dominado que contiene características identificables en múltiples contextos, que puede ser coherente o contradictorio, y cuyo radio de influencia se extiende a las comunidades adyacentes a la mina, al centro urbano más cercano capaz de entregarle servicios a la industria, hasta la zona de salida del producto minero, por lo general el puerto. La tesis presenta además un análisis de las acciones de responsabilidad social corporativa en los casos en los que se realizó trabajo de campo, dando cuenta de las especificidades que adquiere en distintos contextos y escenarios espaciales. A modo de conclusión, la tesis plantea que la responsabilidad social corporativa, en la medida que se encuentre acoplada a planes de desarrollo local, se puede constituir como un mecanismo efectivo para que las comunidades reciban beneficios de la industria minera. Por el contrario, en aquellos casos que no está acoplada a planes de desarrollo local, las tensiones que existen entre comunidad y minería tienden a mantenerse o incluso a intensificarse.
The thesis considers that both the socio-environmental impact of mining and the actions of corporate social responsibility together produce a mining space. To develop this argument, the conceptual framework used was the production of the space by Henry Lefebvre, and a qualitative analysis was made of the actions of corporate social responsibility of 23 large copper mines in the world for a period of five years (2006-2010), as well as field work (observation and interviews) around six sites in Chile and Australia. The results of the thesis first of all present a broad description of the initiatives of corporate responsibility carried out by the large mining sites in the area of the environment (water, air, biodiversity, energy and soil) and in the social area (sport, culture and recreation, education, environmental education, employment and productive development, groups in a situation of greater vulnerability, strategic influence, community participation, archaeological and cultural heritage, promotion of mining, health, housing and urban development, and indigenous communities). This description includes the dynamics produced in the communities from both the impacts of mining and the described corporate social responsibility initiatives. Secondly, the thesis presents a characterisation of the mining space in terms of the transformations it implies in nature, the base scenario of the social space; the spatial practices, referring to the uses and relations within the space, and the representation of the space, in other words the conceptualization, the knowledge and wisdom applied to the space and to its elements. This characterization is used to develop the concept of mining space. Finally, the thesis presents the strategies of corporate social responsibility distinguishing between spatial scenarios by using the experience of the fieldwork. As a conclusion, the thesis considers that corporate social responsibility, being connected to local development plans, may be constituted as an effective mechanism for communities to receive benefits from the mining industry.

Pyritic black shale (PBS) is occasionally extracted as a waste product of iron ore mining in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Mineralogical studies such as Brocks, Summons, Buick, and Logan (2003) of the PBS located at Mount Tom Price Operations have established that PBS can contain elevated concentrations of pyrite, carbon, bitumens, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The natural oxidative weathering of PBS can cause exothermic reactions leading to the shale reaching temperatures that cause the expulsion of toxic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide. Current management of the potential hazards of PBS is based on limiting employees’ working time in PBS areas, using gas detection equipment and wearing respiratory protection for particulates and acid gases. This research investigates the potential risk of adverse health effects for employees working within PBS areas. Three similar exposure groups (SEGs) have work activities located within pits that contain PBS. These groups are classified as: drill and blast; geologists/samplers; and heavy-mobile equipment operators. Historical exposure data for inhalable dust, respirable dust, respirable crystalline silica and toxic gases were obtained for each of the SEGs and analysed using the IHSTAT program. In order to identify what VOCs could potentially be released during the oxidation of PBS, thermal desorption tubes were used to collect positional air samples from burning PBS, and a laboratory trial was conducted where several PBS samples were taken from two waste dumps, crushed, milled and inserted into quartz tubes for thermal desorption. All thermal desorption tubes were heated to 340 °C and 500 °C and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) was conducted on the resultant gas samples (WIENV 31). Particulate results show that the only non-conformance with the Safe Work Australia occupational exposure limits (OELs) occurred among heavy mobile equipment operators and their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The estimated arithmetic mean exposure for the SEG was 0.043 mg/m³ and the estimated 95th percentile was 0.164 mg/m³ compared to the OEL of 0.1 mg/m³. The toxic gas data demonstrate that of the 64 days sampled, hydrogen sulphide exceeded the OEL on 1 day and the short-term exposure limit (STEL) was not exceeded. Sulphur dioxide levels exceeded the OEL on 8 days and on 4 of those days the STEL was also exceeded. All carbon dioxide results were within acceptable ranges. Thermal desorption data showed that benzene, toluene, heptane, cyclohexene, phenol, acetic acid, carbon disulfide and hexane could potentially be produced. The identification of organic vapours indicates the possibility for adverse health impacts not previously considered. Sustained exposure to large quantities of these substances has the potential to produce chronic health effects in the form of cancers and nervous system damage. As a result, recommendations for mining operations in PBS pits are: to provide respiratory protection cartridges that protect against VOCs as well as toxic gases; to carry out sampling for these organic vapours to assess worker exposure; and to maintain existing control measures that limit employees’ exposure to PBS.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science,
In 2004, the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME, predecessor to the current Department of Mineral Resources - DMR) published a guideline to calculate the amount that a mining right holder would require for financial provision at mine closure. This research report reviews the guideline, specifically focussing on the “rules-based approach” for determining the quantum of financial provision. Some authors have recorded the misapplication of this guideline in practice and their research supports a conclusion that the guideline does not provide adequately for the real costs of mine closure. This research report makes a comparison between the DME guideline master rates for mine closure costs and actual tendered prices for those same elements of mine closure in the period from 2009 – 2016. The analysis of the actual tender prices for the various master- and component rates in comparison with the DME guideline rates delivered mixed results. While the actual tender values exceeded the guideline master rates in most cases, there were notable exceptions where the actual tender results lagged the master rates. The data obtained from the actual tender prices for mine rehabilitation projects by a third party suggests that the use of CPI to escalate mine rehabilitation costs was very quickly overtaken in reality by higher annual costs and rate increases for most of the DME guideline master rates that relate to surface mining. It means that the DME guideline master rates were not reflective of actual rehabilitation costs by the time that the use of the DME guideline was superseded by the publication of new regulations by the Department of Environmental Affairs in November 2017. Whilst no perfectly linear and distinct relationship could be deduced, the results broadly support the findings of several authors that the actual costs to rehabilitate a mine are much more than the DME guideline document would lead a mine to provide for. The application of a rules-based approach remains an exercise mired in controversy and with many potential inaccuracies. The new NEMA regulations for financial provision completely negate the need for a guideline and relevant State Departments and mining companies alike are consequently dependant on third parties to prepare closure cost estimates.
E.R. 2019

Earnings in the South African and Zimbabwean mining industries have been severely impacted by these countries' socio-economic and political changes in the last decade. News reports and international research publications consistently rates Zimbabwe as a country with the highest political risks in the world. In South Africa (SA), the initial mining charter requiring 51% Black Economic Empowerment, was leaked to the press in 2002 before promulgation making international investors weary. The currency, the Rand (R) has strengthened from the US$ from R13.85 in 2002 to R 7.17 in 2007, significantly impacting on returns as investors to shift their portfolio to other sectors. The purpose of this research was to explore the implications of country risk and investor sentiment for Impala Platinum's valuation and provide strategy recommendations to improve its market rating whilst sustaining its competitive advantage as a platform for achieving its 2010 vision. In this study, a brief environmental scan of the mining industry was undertaken focusing on the platinum sector as well as a background review of the industry and a five year performance comparison between Impala and Anglo Platinum. It also reviewed corporate strategy literature as it relates to the research problem as well as theoretical models of investor sentiment and decision making processes. The specific research design was primarily exploratory in nature. The Implats valuation conundrum appears to be a phenomenon and the best way to achieve the main research objective was to identify any new ideas, preliminary explore some possible hypothesis and provide strategy recommendations to the board. The research adopted both quantitative and qualitative designs to focus on understanding the values, attitudes and perceptions of investors, which is interpretive and inductive in nature. A holistic case study was the specific vehicle used to conduct the research. The research population was made up of all investors in different regions of the world. Given that the study specifically related to the Implats valuation relative to Amplats, the sampling was tailored to their common investors. Data was collected using a questionnaire; the likert five scale was used to design the questionnaire. The following recommendations were made as a result of the research. Implats should implement measures to build its value chain and attempt to move to a cost quartile not easy to replicate without significant investment and time. In the short term Implats needs to continue improving on its fundamental values whilst crafting a take over defence strategy. It also needs to improve on its investor relations program to robustly communicate its political risk management strategy.
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering
The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive understanding of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and its impact on the mining sector of a developing economy. The ideology and principles discussed aim to assist economists, investors and governments in understanding the need for FDI and how to set up a viable and conducive framework. The research links development economics to FDI as a means to creating and sustaining economic growth.The results of the analysis indicated that there is a direct relationship between development economics and FDI. Political, social and economic risks pose a direct threat to the levels of FDI that a country attracts. A study performed in this research revealed that the higher the perceived risk level, the lower the investment levels. Africa is a resource rich continent; however it ranks low on the investor attractiveness scale. This is due to authoritative political leaders that control corporate and fiscal regimes, ethnic unrest between local tribes and political warfare that is played out in the media. Despite these drawbacks certain African countries are taking steps to improve their attractiveness. Ethiopia is one of them and was selected as the main case study for this research. A benchmark acid test was performed on the policies implemented by government. The Growth Transformation Plan (GTP) I and II (plans set by the government to transform Ethiopia) were reviewed and analysed for feasibility due to the Ethiopian government setting ambitious growth targets. The results of the analysis reveal that investors were attracted to Ethiopia through policies that safeguarded investors’ interests, geological attractiveness, afforded tax and duty havens and allow for the repatriation of profits. The research also highlights the negative impact that social unrest and political violence had on mining FDI. The research concludes on its findings that government policies play a key role in attracting investment. Monetary and fiscal policies must be set to alleviate poverty and create economic growth through the attraction of foreign investment.
NG (2020)

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering Johannesburg 2015
Regardless of the strategic role that mining plays in South Africa‟s economic growth and development, there are perceptions that mining benefits are still enjoyed by a few elite individuals. This is partly due to high expectations from lower level workers in the sector and communities where mining takes place. Failures in the implementation of some of the policies that are social in nature are making people question the wisdom of the current mining legislation, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). The main question of this research paper is whether the MPRDA, in its current form, is a suitable mining legislative framework that can usher a better dispensation for all or whether there is a need to overhaul it in order to deliver the desired end results that are expected by the majority of South Africans. It is against this background that this research was undertaken, by studying best practice in other mining jurisdictions and conducting a survey of those involved in the South African mining sector. From the research and surveys, recommendations are proposed on what amendments could be effected on the MPRDA to make the South African mining sector more attractive and simultaneously, meet the citizens‟ expectations.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016
The Precious Metals Industry in South Africa is highly-regulated compared with other mining and trading countries in the western world which have either deregulated their precious metals industries, have only partial controls or have never seen the need to regulate gold and platinum-group metals specifically. South Africa has a specific Act of parliament, the Precious Metals Act, 2005 (a modification of Chapter 16 of the Mining Rights Act, 1967), that regulates possession, trading and manufacture of precious metals. Apart from the Russian Federation, no other country in the world regulates gold and platinum-group metals possession, trading and fabrication to the extent still done in South Africa. The requirement for such stringent controls was based on the country’s pre-eminence in the production of gold and platinum over the past fifty years, exchange controls (in the case of gold) and the contribution of gold and platinum-group metals to foreign exchange earnings and to the country’s economy as a whole. However, much has changed in South Africa, in the world and indeed in the precious metals industries domestically and globally and this work is the first attempt to discuss and analyse developments and proposals that are impacting on the regulation of the precious metals industries in South Africa. Of these, the World Gold Council’s Conflict-Free Gold Standard provides a case for industry self- regulation to complement, or substitute for government regulation in future. The hypothesis at the Proposal Stage of this study was that the precious metals industry in South Africa is over-regulated and should be deregulated. In this study, this hypothesis is explored and debated. The Resource Nationalism -motivated proposals, including Producer-Country Price for Platinum, OPEC-type trade bloc for platinum, precious metal exchange and single-channel marketing of platinum, were analysed in this study. It was concluded that these are wanting in terms of cost/benefit or problematic in terms of international agreements and trade and competition laws. iii The Precious Metals Act, 2005 itself was also critically analysed with a view to evaluating what could be regulated better or deregulated in the light of recent developments and proposals. It was found, ironically, that the old problem of illegal mining and trading needs to be brought under control before deregulation of the precious metals industry can begin. Nevertheless, in the run-up to deregulation (in an estimated 10 to 15 years), industry self-regulation, co-regulation (with industry) hallmarking, and a re-examination of how beneficiation is promoted should be considered.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Environmental Science). Johannesburg, 2017.
South Africa’s SDFIs have potential to play a critical role in fostering environmental compliance in the mining industry. Their role is particularly important in the small-scale and junior mining sector which is usually shunned by private finance institutions because of high environmental credit risk. Equipped with knowledge and experience of working with clients across different sectors and their potential leadership role in technology transfer, SDFIs can leverage their position in acting as trusted third party environmental regulation enforcers. Financial institutions have long been criticised for showing little interest in environmental impacts of their clients while concentrating on profit maximisation. This study sought to investigate the response by financial institutions to this criticism through evaluating the role of SDFIs in fostering environmental compliance by small-scale and junior mining companies which are generally viewed as having a poor environmental compliance record. Through the twin qualitative research methods of interviews and document analysis, the role of three state-owned development finance institutions in fostering environmental regulation compliance by small-scale mining enterprises in South Africa was evaluated. The study revealed that SDFIs explicitly and implicitly provide a wide range of products and services which help small-scale and junior miners in complying with environmental regulations. The study also found that, while SDFIs are beginning to adopt market-based mechanisms to encourage environmental compliance, they still heavily rely on command and control mechanisms as a way of mitigating environmentally related risks arising from financing mining companies.
LG2018

Small-scale variation (SSV) of mine soils is enhanced by stripping, mixing and stockpiling of materials. Soils with enhanced variation are difficult to assess, causing misleading results that indirectly affects mine rehabilitation outcomes. This thesis aims to determine if standard soil chemical and biological methods are applicable in the assessment of enhanced SSV mine soils from Barrick (Cowal) Gold mine. Mine soils are firstly discussed in context of rehabilitation. Rehabilitating mine sites involves ecosystem engineering, in which landscape, function, structure and composition are essential ecosystem features. Using these features, a framework for planning, implementing and monitoring for ecosystem engineering was developed. The issue of SSV in mine soils was reviewed in the literature. It was determined that SSV directly and indirectly influences mine rehabilitation outcomes. The development of sampling strategies, alternative analytical and statistical methods, and standard guidelines are required for reliable assessment of mine soils. Nineteen topsoil stockpiles at Cowal were sampled for characterisation, with sample numbers proportional to stockpile size. Electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), sulphur (TS), nitrate-N, ammonium-N and Colwell phosphorus (P) were analysed. The soils require stabilisation and amendments for successful revegetation. Variation in exchangeable cations, TC and TN indicate soil management may cause variation in the stockpiles. Lack of matching pre- and post-mine surveys resulted in inconclusive causes of variation. Standard organic (wood mulch and compost) and inorganic (gypsum) amendments were used in the rehabilitation of a heterogeneous mine soil. This was undertaken as a 32-week laboratory (biological) and 72-week glasshouse (chemical characteristics and plants) study. The wood mulch increased C:N, C:P, C:S, respiration and moisture, which positively influenced revegetation. Gypsum had no significant impact on revegetation. Compost, however, increased all nutrients measured and decreased C:N, C:P and C:S. The low C:N:P:S ratios resulted in poorer revegetation. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were greater than 30% for microbiological biomass carbon (MBC), EC and nitrate-N (NO3-). The high variation in EC was related to gypsum application. The variation for MBC and NO3- was probably due to underlying enhanced SSV and inconsistent interferences in methods. TC, TN, TP, TS, respiration, water-P, bicarbonate-P, EC, pH, and moisture were demonstrated to be precise and accurate indicators for the assessment of mine soils. Large CVs in the standard salicylate Berthelot reaction for ammonium-N were investigated. Gypsum and enhanced variation of the soil cause inconsistent interferences. Pre-treatment by steam distillation is recommended. The anion exchange membrane method for measuring P (AEM-P) was assessed along with a range of low ionic solutions (LIS) to limit the variability associated with mine soils. Deionised water and NH4F with AEMs are precise for a range of mine soils. This thesis identifies DI AEM-P, WP, TC, TN, TP, TS, pH, EC and respiration as accurate and precise approaches for the assessment of mine soils. Nitrate-N, ammonium-N and MBC methods are not accurate, nor precise. There is a need to standardise analytical and statistical methods, and survey techniques for mine soils.

A comprehensive and rigid analysis of Chinese investment in Australia for the past four decades is an under-researched topic, though there had been sporadic treatments of this subject matter from the perspective of single institutions in economics, politics, and culture. The neoliberalism era marked a honeymoon between China and Australia, which boosted the Chinese investments in Australia, marked by the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement and the ‘One Belt One Road Initiative’ Agreement, signed by the Victorian Government and the Chinese Development and Reform Commission. Recent years witnessed a deterioration of the Australia and China relationships and the “tit-for-tat” strategies and racism movements which discourage the Chinese investments in Australia. This study has developed a conceptual framework consisting of economic, political, cultural and institutional factors that may explain the Australian government’s decision of rejecting certain Chinese investments in recent years. Case studies were employed to illustrate the application of the conceptual framework. The findings suggest that the conceptual framework can be utilized to explain why the Australian government rejected certain Chinese investments. This research aims to analyze the determinants of Australia Government’s rejection of Chinese investment in Australia. Case studies in the field of the Australian mining sector, agriculture and agribusiness, and infrastructure unveil that political distrust towards Chinese investment in Australia is a major source of refusing Chinese investment. This led to continuous reduction of Chinese investment in Australia since 2016. Such political distrust which works against the national interest of the respective countries, may also drive the decline of Chinese investment in Australia. This research contributes to the literature by examining the factors which lead to the Australian Government’s decision to reject certain Chinese investments based on in depth analysis of case studies. This will be useful for understanding how to enlarge shared interest for policymakers, businessmen and academic researchers.

This research investigated the potential benefits, risks and challenges, innovation properties and viability of cloud computing for records management on an Australian organisation within the mining software development sector. This research involved the use of a case study results analysis as well as a literature analysis. The literature analysis identified the ten potential benefits of cloud computing, as well as the ten risks and challenges associated with cloud computing. It further identified aspects, which needed to be addressed when adopting cloud computing in order to promote innovation within an organisation. The case study analysis was compared against a literature review of ten potential benefits of cloud computing, as well as the ten risks and challenges associated with cloud computing. This was done in order to determine cloud computing’s viability for records management for Company X (The company in the case study). Cloud computing was found to be viable for Company X. However, there were certain aspects, which need to be discussed and clarified with the cloud service provider beforehand in order to mitigate possible risks and compliance issues. It is also recommended that a cloud service provider who complies with international standards, such as ISO 15489, be selected. The viability of cloud computing for organisations similar to Company X (mining software development) followed a related path. These organisations need to ensure that the service provider is compliant with laws in their local jurisdiction, such as Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Australia, 2011:14-15), as well as laws where their data (in the cloud) may be hosted. The benefits, risks and challenges of records management and cloud computing are applicable to these similar organisations. However, mitigation of these risks needs to be discussed with a cloud service provider beforehand. From an innovation perspective, cloud computing is able to promote innovation within an organisation, if certain antecedents are dealt with. Furthermore, if cloud computing is successfully adopted then it should promote innovation within organisations.
Information Science
M. Inf.

Economic transition towards a market driven economy in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or Laos) began in 1986 and has attracted international attention including the attention of Australia. This study investigates the trends, patterns and determinants of Australian direct investment in Laos. Australia has played a significant role in the development of the Lao economy through bilateral trade, direct investment and foreign aid. The study outlines the contribution of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Laos's socio-economic development. A key part of this study is a case study of an Australian mining company with significant investments in Laos. The study investigates the factors that have influenced the Australian corporate investor to undertake investment in Laos. The study aims to provide a greater understanding of the factors that influence FDI and the factors that may determine the future trends in such investment. The study also assesses the effects of FDI laws and regulations on FDI flows to Laos. The study sheds new light on the trends, patterns and determinants of Australian direct investment in Laos.