Australia has been shielded from an even worse Covid-19 economic downturn by a record demand for resources from China, despite the souring of diplomatic relations between Canberra and Beijing.
Keith Pitt, Australia’s minister for resources, told the Financial Times that the mining and energy sectors were underpinning the domestic economy, which has been battered by a second wave of Covid-19 that has forced many businesses in Melbourne to shut again for several weeks.
“Resources have been a shining light of Australia’s economic story. The sector has managed to keep pretty much all its people employed and engaged — and that’s over 240,000 direct jobs,” said Mr Pitt.