This monograph had its genesis in approaches made by Argyle Diamond Mine (ADM) in 2001 to John Taylor to develop a social and economic profile of the population resident within an area potentially influenced by the mine’s presence. This research task was similar to one he prepared for Rio Tinto Ltd in the previous year in south-east Arnhem Land subsequently enhanced and published as CAEPR Monograph No. 18 Ngukurr at the Millennium: A Baseline Profile for Social Impact Planning in South-East Arnhem Land (J. Taylor, J. Bern and K.A. Senior). However, practical steps in pursuit of ADM’s research objective were not taken until the Kimberley Land Council commissioned the present study late in 2002. This research was an important part of their compilation of strategic information to assist in negotiations with ADM for the development of a new comprehensive Indigenous Land Use Agreement. Both of these requests emerged following revised assessments of possible underground mining at Argyle.

The outcome is a statistical analysis of social and economic conditions among Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents of the northern part of the East Kimberley. The data presented describe the situation in 2001, 20 years after the commencement of mining at Argyle and at a point in time when choices are to be made either to extend mining activities or to wind them down ahead of eventual closure. Either way, Taylor’s comprehensive profile provides invaluable input to discussions about mining impacts on regional economies by quantifying the changes that have occurred since mining commenced, and in projecting some likely future social and economic outcomes. To this extent, it is also instructive for the East Kimberley Indigenous Communities Coordination Pilot (ICCP) trial project sponsored by the Council of Australian Governments and overseen by the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services, as it demonstrates the range of data that can be compiled on a regional scale in that part of Western Australia.

This monograph also has important links to another project, ‘Community Organisations and Miners: Partnering Sustainable Regional Development?’an ARC Linkage project between CAEPR, Rio Tinto Ltd and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). This project, that began in 2002 and will run until 2006, is seeking to assess the potential development impacts of mines at a number of locations in remote Australia.

By publishing this report in the CAEPR Research Monograph series we aim to ensure timely and wide distribution of these research findings throughout the Indigenous policy community. All too often, vital benchmark statistical information gathered in the course of impact assessment work remains either unpublished or relatively inaccessible. The same will not be said of the present analysis. We would like to acknowledge the role of ADM in financially supporting this research and its publication in the present format.

Professor Jon Altman

Director, CAEPR

December 2003