--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Western Australia, minerals are being…" description: "\"In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from Aboriginal land and shipped to China for a profit of a billion dollars a week. In this, the riches..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/john-pilger-10261_aboriginal_in-western-australia-minerals-are-being_898760.jpg" --- # In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from… ![“In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from Aboriginal land and shipped to China for a profit of a billion dollars a week. In this, the richest, 'booming' state, the prisons bulge with stricken Aboriginal people, including juveniles whose mothers stand at the prison gates, pleading for…” quote by John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/john-pilger-10261_aboriginal_in-western-australia-minerals-are-being_898760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/john-pilger-10261_aboriginal_in-western-australia-minerals-are-being_898760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/john-pilger-10261_aboriginal_in-western-australia-minerals-are-being_898760.jpg) > “In Western Australia, minerals are being dug up from Aboriginal land and shipped to China for a profit of a billion dollars a week. In this, the richest, 'booming' state, the prisons bulge with stricken Aboriginal people, including juveniles whose mothers stand at the prison gates, pleading for their release. The incarceration of black Australians here is eight times that of black South Africans during the last decade of apartheid.” [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Indigenous Australians face disproportionate imprisonment and exploitation of their lands, highlighting systemic racism and economic injustice. **In simple terms:** Aboriginal people suffer high incarceration and resource exploitation. Key Takeaway Advocate for legal reform and equitable resource sharing. Themes social justice indigenous rights economic exploitation racism Mood outraged hopeful Type critical activist When to use this quote - policy advocacy - community organizing - education campaigns - legal aid services Key Concepts colonial legacy systemic inequality human rights Questions to Reflect On - What policies could reduce incarceration rates? - How can resource profits benefit Indigenous communities? A Different Perspective Addressing deep‑rooted inequality requires sustained political will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aboriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aboriginal/) [Apartheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) [Australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Incarceration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incarceration/) [Minerals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minerals/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisons/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [South African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-african/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) ## Related quotes > [But for poor black people and working-class black people, it is a much more difficult way to go. 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No other country in the world imprisons so many of its racial or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-racial-dimension-of-mass-incarceration-is-its-most-striking/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [It is this subtle dimension of understanding that marks the southwestern Indian peoples from other religions and separates tribal peoples from the world's religions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/it-is-this-subtle-dimension-of-understanding-that-marks-the/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [I was very curious, that's why I think my reality TV seems normal. 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You other readers can’t deny That when a kid walks in with The Name of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-c-hines/i-like-big-books-and-i-cannot-lie-you-other-readers-can-t-deny-that/) [Jim C. Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-c-hines/) > [Once again your mind explodes with a searing pain. A floodgate of memories bursts wide. Yet it is her face that keeps haunting you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-mcfarlane/once-again-your-mind-explodes-with-a-searing-pain-a-floodgate-of/) [Todd McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-mcfarlane/) > [When I cannot understand my Father's leading, And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate, Still I hear that gentle whisper ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/when-i-cannot-understand-my-father-s-leading-and-it-seems-to-be-but/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [“The whole four to five weeks that we've been here in this courtroom has been for one reason. And that is because Theodore Robert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-whole-four-to-five-weeks-that-we-ve-been-here-in-this-courtroom/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [“She tried to pull away, but Jacks held tight, knotting her hair in his fist and keeping his forehead pressed to hers. 'Please, Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/she-tried-to-pull-away-but-jacks-held-tight-knotting-her-hair-in-his/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [“It is bad enough to be unconverted and going to hell. It is even worse to say, “I know it and will not cry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle-2/it-is-bad-enough-to-be-unconverted-and-going-to-hell-it-is-even-worse/) [J.C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle-2/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) ## More by John Pilger > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In the sublime days before 11 September 2001, when the powerful were routinely attacking and terrorising the weak, and those dying were black or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-the-sublime-days-before-11-september-2001-when-the-powerful-were/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Vietnam was as much a laboratory experiment as a war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/vietnam-was-as-much-a-laboratory-experiment-as-a-war/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Certainly, until there is justice for the Palestinians, there will never be any kind of stability in the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/certainly-until-there-is-justice-for-the-palestinians-there-will/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Bill Clinton persuaded some people that he was really a civilized character and his Administration had the best interests of humanity at heart. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/bill-clinton-persuaded-some-people-that-he-was-really-a-civilized/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Israel is the American watchdog in the Middle East, and that's why the Palestinians remain victims of one of the longest military occupations. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/israel-is-the-american-watchdog-in-the-middle-east-and-that-s-why-the-2/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The censorship is such on television in the U.S. that films like mine don't stand a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-censorship-is-such-on-television-in-the-u-s-that-films-like-mine/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Since September 11, the Mirror has reached back to its roots, and decided, it seems, to be something of its old self again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/since-september-11-the-mirror-has-reached-back-to-its-roots-and/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Private Manning is the world's pre-eminent prisoner of conscience, having remained true to the Nuremberg principle that every soldier has the right to 'a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/private-manning-is-the-world-s-pre-eminent-prisoner-of-conscience/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The Mirror has become an important antidote to a media that is, most of it, supportive of the establishment, some of it quite rabidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/the-mirror-has-become-an-important-antidote-to-a-media-that-is-most/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Two increasing themes which appear to dominate our listening, reading and watching lives are propaganda and 'national security', or manufactured war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/two-increasing-themes-which-appear-to-dominate-our-listening-reading/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [In these surreal days, there is one truth. Nothing justified the killing of innocent people in America last week and nothing justifies the killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/in-these-surreal-days-there-is-one-truth-nothing-justified-the/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [Orwell is almost our litmus test. Some of his satirical writing looks like reality these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/orwell-is-almost-our-litmus-test-some-of-his-satirical-writing-looks/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [We have an extreme rightwing government in this country, although it's called the Labour government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/we-have-an-extreme-rightwing-government-in-this-country-although-it-s/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) [Explore all 67 John Pilger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) ## More Aboriginal quotes > [I won the seat of Oxley largely on an issue that has resulted in me being called a racist. That issue related to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/i-won-the-seat-of-oxley-largely-on-an-issue-that-has-resulted-in-me/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [One of my earliest memories is being backstage at 'Bran Nue Dae' in Darwin when I was about eight. It's such a fun, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-sebbens/one-of-my-earliest-memories-is-being-backstage-at-bran-nue-dae-in/) [Shari Sebbens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-sebbens/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We've had real strong aboriginal male artists who've crossed over to the mainstream who have toured the U.K., who have been a massive influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/we-ve-had-real-strong-aboriginal-male-artists-who-ve-crossed-over-to/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [Genius . . . arises in the natural, aboriginal concern for the conscious unity of all phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hunter-austin/genius-arises-in-the-natural-aboriginal-concern-for-the-conscious/) [Mary Hunter Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hunter-austin/) > [In 1995, the Paul Keating Labor government commissioned an inquiry into the forcible removal of Aboriginal children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/in-1995-the-paul-keating-labor-government-commissioned-an-inquiry/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity. They forget, perhaps, that his religion forbade the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-alexander-eastman/the-native-american-has-been-generally-despised-by-his-white/) [Charles Alexander Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-alexander-eastman/) > [The families of Aboriginals who have died in custody in NSW will suffer again because of these white lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-murray/the-families-of-aboriginals-who-have-died-in-custody-in-nsw-will/) Arthur Murray > [Over 120 Aboriginal communities run their own health services - some have been doing so for 30 years. They struggle with difficult medical problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-fraser/over-120-aboriginal-communities-run-their-own-health-services-some/) [Malcolm Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-fraser/) > [“If they follow the way of Money Chiefs, they shall die. Earth is sick and can no longer care for her children. Now, Earth’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-perrin/if-they-follow-the-way-of-money-chiefs-they-shall-die-earth-is-sick/) Frédéric Perrin > [I have written with some amazing singers and songwriters - the moment with Snoop Dogg was amazing - but being able to tell an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/i-have-written-with-some-amazing-singers-and-songwriters-the-moment/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [In the European tradition, rivers are seen as divisions between peoples. But in the Aboriginal tradition, rivers are seen as the glue, the highway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/in-the-european-tradition-rivers-are-seen-as-divisions-between/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [People look at me, and they don't see what they think is a typical Aboriginal. 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