Kerryanne,
Some good points for sure, but tell me where do we house any migrants in the State, water is an issue for a start, small towns are becoming defunct, we cannot get Doctors to come to the smaller regional areas, and where the hell would they, the migrants, find jobs? Yes, the miners earn good money, but then they have to pay out up to $2000 per week to rent a house, and to buy a one in the North/northwest of this State is almost financially impossible.
Even in the S.E. of W.A., the freight charges added for ordinary everyday things such as food etc can be quite high, worse in the North West areas.
The City of Perth is becoming crowded, some folk are living in their cars because they cannot get a house to either rent or buy (they are, to be fair,a minority), and we still have people living on the streets.
Maybe you have the solutions, because I cannot think of one.
As it is we are building and commissioning Desalination plants on the coast just to find some water that is potable.
Cheers,
NSB
PS Maybe some small defunct headed towns can be re-built, but where would there be jobs for any migrants, or medical services?

Kerryanne,
Re: your comment on your last post - "so long as they don't sit back and make their coal industry the only one", are you referring to W.A. or what?, coal mining in W.A. is relatively small compared with their other mining industries, ergo Nickel, Iron Ore, Oil, Talc, silver, and the list goes on.
NSB

Ludwig, your docile approach is all very well, but I assure you that
the meek don't inherit the earth, the squeaky wheel gets the oil :)

You are not in WA most of the time, I have been watching this stuff
for 30 years now. What improvements we have in the bush, were hard
fought for, not by pleading, but by threats and political action.

The Brookton Highway was once so bad, that they had to slow traffic
to stop accidents. Meantime the Burke Labor Govt was shovelling money
into the hands of Connell and Bondy. It was only when we got a farmer
into making decisions, that we got a great road. The list goes on.

Wealth is not just created in the NW, but right through the State.
Those road trains heading to Perth, loaded with grains and livestock,
are making the country better off. There are mines all over the place
and there is no reason why WA rural residents should be treated
as second class citizens. If its good enough for Canberrra, its
good enough for the rest of us.

Yes, red tape is everywhere, but smaller democracies invariably
function better then large ones. Residents are closer to the policy
makers. Try doing anything in the US or EU, you have buckleys.
Try a smaller country like Switzerland, it all changes. I can get
action from the local people in WA. Once decision making resides in
Canberra, WA gets lost in the political fog of us over here not
mattering too much, apart from as a cash cow. The minister is too
busy worrying about the numbers game of NSW and Victoria.

Given that we generate half the country's exports and Australia needs
us far more then we need them, I think it would be foolish not
to use the threat of secession as a bargaining tool, to make sure
that we get a fair deal

Pelican, Adelaide as the Oz capital is without doubt the worst idea you have ever had.

What we should be doing is closing South Oz down. It really is just too expensive for the eastern states, & WA of course, to keep. It's something like a bad dog, that eats your shoes, & attacks the neighbours, more trouble than it's worth, even after allowing for the wine.

For every time someone in Adelaide flushes the toilet, five acres of productive land has to go dry in Qld, NSW or VIC, it is just not worth perpetuating.

Just imagine if it was the capital, & full of bureaucrats, we'd have to close the east down to supply their needs. I have been trying to think of someone we could give the place to, but there's no one I dislike enough.

So sorry mate, Canberra is bad enough, but Adelaide! How could you?

Just a reminder to our WA bretheren that fifty years ago WA was a commercial non entity compared to the eastern states. Then the Commonwealth gave you 7 million pounds to build the Ord, swiftly followed by 30 million pounds to do the up strean and irrigation stuff. Then minerals were discovered, and now you think your too good for the rest. That is akin to a footy supporter believing they scoed the points. WA IS A HOLE IN THE GROUND.

*Just a reminder to our WA bretheren that fifty years ago WA was a commercial non entity compared to the eastern states.*

Hang on, Sonofgloin. 50 years ago WA was a very young state already
then focussed on exports, but the export of iron ore was banned
by the Commonwealth. West Australians were forced to buy crappy,
overpriced Eastern States products for their daily needs. The
removal of tariffs has finally leveled the playing field a bit.

Now that you don't have us as your slave customers anymore, how
well are you doing on global markets? We are still exporting btw.