According to Twitter Ian Sibbit is retiring at the end of this season.

Thatcher had the balls to stand up to unions that were trying to hold the country to ransom, in those days the situation was different, coal mines were losing money and needing subsidies, the unions were expecting the taxpayer to bail them out, like the bankers do now. And with weakass figures like Cameron in charge thats what they get.



What we need is someone with balls like Thatcher to stand up to the banks say to them "No, No, No", if coal exports is a growing market then thats what the state should be focusing on, and for people that lose their jobs in banking its up to them to seek work in that sector, and not expect the state to let them carry on working in their unprofitable industries.



So what if that means that you get more inequality, the Aussies don't care about people getting rich from mining coal? If everyone in Yorkshire and the North East working the pits gets rich then good for them, their wealth will trickle down to help the poor in the non mining regions like the south.

You sure about that?

Any more posts like this and you'll need that American Football helmet you use as an avatar. What on earth this has to do with Rugby League ? Trickle down indeed.

Time to re-open Gomersal Pit? Get the players down there 9-5, training on an evening. A great way to beat the salary cap and they'll be as strong as oxes.

I live in Australia and I can asure you he is leaving for a BIG pay rise !



Miners can earn in excess of $350k pa , which is 210k pounds pa at exchange rates today , also it's warm when he finishes work. They work 3 weeks on 1 week off and it's very hard work but well remunerated. Iron ore prices have halved in the last year though .

As someone who reads (and occasionally posts on) the sin bin I have read enough posts from Sallycinnamon on political to know that he was not being entirely serious in this thread.

Brilliant stuff Sall..not often I say that to trolls but you're clearly in a different league and very funny!!

We get different stories to be honest. My brother in law who lives in Adelaide tells that the mines are suffering in the world-wide recession (industry slowing down, not as much raw material wanted, etc) so I guess it's, to some extent, localised with some mines being effected more than others. Though it sounds like the sort of job in which a young fit bloke who wants to work can make a good living.

The contracts for the mining maybe smaller at the moment but will go up. For example at the moment outside of Gladstone Qld it's still big and WA's still big.

Keep hearing that SA will be the next spot to go up.