Diamonds, pearls and Kimberley girls: without shame in the north-west

A distinct Australian identity is developing in the west. It comes from the Pilbara as a product of the mining industry, along with iron ore and our 'comparative advantage'. By propping up Australia's economy in hard times, the mining industry is shaping notions of what this land is good for. It's a strong and masculine image: almost half the population of the Pilbara is employed in mining and construction, and 85 per cent of the workforce is male. That new romantic image of the west was depicted in the cinema success of 2011, partly funded by mining royalties: Red Dog without a master, a wanderer and a loyal mate to homesick miners, misfits and those trying to make an honest buck. This is an Australia where the land is gutted by big machines, where sweat and red dirt paint white men a violent colour. Politicians tell us that this is how Australia survives - it's what keeps us strong while Europe and America teeter on the precipice of financial collapse. The mining companies tell the Traditional Owners that this is the best hope for Indigenous advancement, as though it's this or nothing.