Inside The Aussie Opal Mining Industry Facing Extinction

Sam Mehan is just one of many opal miners who were left without work for months after the NSW government announced that over 3300 opal mining claims were invalid.

Now, the government is considering 81 recommendations that could put miners' livelihoods at risk.

#Opals #OpalMining #AustralianOpals

[MRTonyt]

Gov sometimes should just stay away from people who are trying their hardest to make a living in their communities.

[johnharrop]

My Nan was born in a tent 1901 at Lightning Ridge , don’t listen too the shiny bum paper shufflers, this country was built by people not the government , sounds like some eco nutter wants to make a change so they can boost about it, remember eureka stockade, we need more of that😊

[waitawhileexplorer]

The big boys in town who can afford to open cut must have passed over a few brown paper bags.

[elmaphud]

Bet they dont stop big mining companies owning several leases.

[stuoak]

Wow channel 10 supporting the little guy? What changed?

[dpitt]

In other words force the little guy out we only want to deal with the big boys in town who can afford to open cut. Limiting it to only two claims per family is ridiculous !! What if there is a split in the Who is going to decide who can have the This reeks of favouritism towards big mining companies. Politicians should abstain from any policy decision making if they have shares in a mining company plain and simple. And mining companies should NOT be allowed to donate to a specific party EITHER Government has FAILED the local claim owners big time

[tinacombe]

The opal supports the tourist industry as well as contributing to the national economy, millions of dollars worth in international exports . What is happening in NSW is also happening in QLD and SA, there seems to be a conspiracy to destroy an industry that produces the best opal in the world, Australia's national gemstone . !!

[joshford]

This is just so so sad that the government is stopping opal mining and sapphire mining in NSW and Qld

[arohawaima]

Gemfields in qld had to fight the government with claims as well.

[robinbanks]

I am a part owner of a opal mine with my brother's and a mutual friend and it's a different way of life and you spend alot of money to find dirt and potch but if you are lucky and move that dirt it can lead to the big one!! It's possible to pull over a million out of the ground in virgin ground it's all chance!!!

[tracyormandy]

It's a lifestyle. Well done guys stepping up and speaking up about the ridiculous confusion and controversy over control over the Ridge and surrounding fields 👏 👍 grab that lawyer, lock him in.

[yoke-munchan]

Open cut and tenching is bad, saw what happened to lightning Ridge to a friend's claim when the neighbouring claim went open cut.

[Reindeer_jay]

And not one mention of what’s happening with White Cliffs! You have to look at the situation there to get the full story of Opal mining in NSW.

[stephenpascoe]

Government paid some compensation, you mean the Tax payer footed the bill 🙄

[timsimpson]

"Open cut "sounds like big company n gov are in bed, only found this little place of hevan, now sounds like the government's greed will destroy this without a thought for the pioneers of this great country, now rolling in there graves with anguish ! Not much there except good real Australian families having a go at one of the last frontier, feelings and having a real" Aussie Go"! Tim Simpson

[susielowell]

im a maine fisherman and something similar is happening to us with lobster industry that is our famous industry world wide

[MrPeterjscott]

Grew up in Lightning Ridge and grawin shepyards great community

[rendtech]

This is clearly a large miner / company paying government to close down small operators. They place laws in to make it impossible to earn money. Then the large colony swoops in buying these smaller claims taking over the entire area. Follow the money.

[Andrew-hubx]

Oh honestly this show host just pisses you OFF!

[richardallen-ee]

What you got to do is make the industry totally un workable. Then hand the land back to some aboriginal person. Effectively putting these hard working people out of their jobs. Then living in this area will just be a lifestyle choice. Eventually leading to these communities closing down. Then the government will be able to sell the whole area to some Chinese mining company