Diggers & Dealers is an annual mining conference held in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. First held in 1992, today it is attended by over 2,500 delegates.[1] As of 2023, a three-day pass to the conference costs $2,250, while a one-day pass costs $1,110.[1]
| Diggers & Dealers | |
|---|---|
| Begins | 5 August 2024 |
| Ends | 7 August 2024 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia |
| Years active | 32 |
| Inaugurated | 1992 |
| Founder | Geoffrey Stokes |
| Most recent | 7 - 9 August 2023 |
| Participants | Australian mining industry |
| Attendance | 2,650 (2023) |
| Website | www |
History
editRon Wise was a founder of the annual Diggers & Dealers event in Kalgoorlie.[2]
1992
editThe annual conference was initiated by Palace Hotel, Kalgoorlie proprietor Geoffrey Stokes in 1992, with the first conference attended by 10 delegates.[3]
2009
editThe 2009 conference was held during the Global Recession, with 12,000 jobs having been lost in the Australian mining industry in the previous eight months. Despite this, Western Australian mining recovered much better than most, and the general mood was "upbeat", unlike in the previous year.[4]
2010
editThe event, usually non-political and mining orientated, was overshadowed by the 2010 Australian federal election, held less than three weeks later. It was dominated by discussion about the unpopular Mineral Resource Rent Tax, newly introduced by the Gillard government, which was seen as disadvantaging the smaller mining companies and favouring the larger ones like BHP, Rio Tinto and Xstrata. The conferences chairman, Barry Eldridge, predicted the political backlash for the government already before the conference.[5][6][7]
The conference stretches Kalgoorlie's abilities to accommodate all delegates to the extreme. Rooms are often booked out two years in advance, with nightly rates rising by 150% during the conference. Local residents are encouraged to rent out their houses during the event and leave town. A three-bedroom house can fetch several thousand dollars for three days.[8][9]
In 2010, the three-day program consisted of presentations by major and minor mining companies, especially gold miners. In 2010, AngloGold Ashanti, through CEO Mark Cutifani, Barrick Gold, through Gary Halverson, President Asia Pacific and Fortescue Metals Group, represented by CEO Andrew Forrest, were some of the major presenters.[6]
Another outcome of the 2010 conference was the recognition that mining had to lift its profile nationally and to advertise better its record on "job creation, relations with indigenous people and its environmental record".[10]
After the mining boom
editDespite a downturn in mining in 2015 the event was still held.[11][12]
Awards
editAnnually, the conference hands out a number of awards for achievements in the mining industry. Since 1997, the G.J. Stokes Memorial Award, the Digger Award and the Dealer Award are awarded. In 2003, a Media Award was added and in 2007, a Best Emerging Company award. Former award winners include Joseph Gutnick (1997), the only individual to win the Digger Award, and Robert Champion de Crespigny, former CEO of Normandy Mining.[13]
GJ Stokes Memorial award
editNamed after the Diggers & Dealers founder and awarded to a long time servant of the mining industry[14]
- 1997 - Arvi Parbo
- 1998 - Ian Burston
- 1999 - Charles Court
- 2000 - Roy Woodall
- 2001 - not awarded
- 2002 - David Reed
- 2003 - Trevor Sykes
- 2004 - Laurence Brodie-Hall
- 2005 - Peter Newton
- 2006 - Graeme Smith, George Botica, Barry Paterson & Ron Harken
- 2007 - Pierre Lassonde
- 2008 - Owen Hegarty
- 2009 - Nick Giorgetta
- 2010 - David Moore
- 2011 - George Jones
- 2012 - Geoff Loudon
- 2013 - Andrew Forrest[15]
- 2014 - Jim Walker
- 2015 - Mark Cutifani
- 2016 - Christopher Bonwick
- 2017 - Jim Askew
- 2018 - Ron Sayers
- 2019 - Mark Creasy
- 2020 - Gina Rinehart
- 2021 - Steve Coughlan[16]
- 2022 - Tim Goyder[17]
- 2023 - Neil Warburton[18]
References
edit- ^ a b "Diggers & Dealers".
- ^ Harvey, Ben; Hatch, Daniel (29 November 2013). 100 most influential: The business leaders who shaped WA – 1829-2013 (PDF). The West Australian. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2020.
- ^ Diggers & Dealers: Where it all began Mining Plus July 2017
- ^ "Diggers and Dealers opens". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 August 2009.
- ^ Diggers and Dealers 2010 - The Song Remains The Same ABC Rural, author: Babs McHugh, published: 2 August 2010, accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ a b Politics on the agenda at Diggers & Dealers mining conference The Australian, published: 31 July 2010, accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ Kalgoorlie full for Diggers and Dealers ABC News, published: 2 August 2010, accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ Kalgoorlie braces for annual Diggers & Dealers goldrush Archived 2 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine perthnow.com.au, published: 31 July 2010, accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ Perfect opportunity to bash mining tax Brisbane Times, published: 2 August 2010, accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ Diggers to create $20m fund to 'sell' the industry The Australian, published: 4 August 2010, accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ "Attendee numbers defy downturn at annual mining knees-up". 3 August 2015.
- ^ "Diggers and Dealers Awards 2015". 6 August 2015.
- ^ Official Diggers & Dealers website: Forum Awards Archived 3 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 26 October 2010
- ^ "Diggers & Dealers Roll of Honour". Kalgoorlie Miner. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ Twiggy Forest wins Diggers & Dealers gong ABC News 8 August 2013
- ^ Steve Goughlan Business News
- ^ Wild weather strikes Diggers & Dealers Kalgoorlie Miner 3 August 2022
- ^ Diggers & Dealers 2023: Pilbara Minerals wins Digger of the Year Award The West Australian 9 August 2023