In kangaroo country Kalgoorlie watches

Australia's election has delivered a hung parliament for the first time in 70 years. Both Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard will try to sweet talk independents into helping tip their parties over the line and into government. Julia Gillard's Labour blew the election wide open when her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, proposed a crazy super tax on Australian mining companies. These companies are the engine room of the economy, linking it to the evolving might of China. Within weeks he was out and Labour had to scramble to regain lost ground. The outcome is in the balance. The QSL is from 6KG Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. We hear a lot of Australian AM stations here in Cape Town, especially from the western side. The manager, Graham Harvey, sent this nice letter drawing a comparison between Kalgoorlie and Johannesburg. Gold was found in Joburg in 1886 and from nothing this region is now responsible for 40% of South Africa's GDP. Gold is still mined in the area, some of it 3-4 kilometres underground. Kalgoorlie was founded only 7 years later and the mine still operates as an open pit, rather than deep level. These days the Super Pit is jointly owned by Barrick and Newmont, two of the best-known global gold miners. They will be watching the outcome of the Aussie election with interest.