Let’s call it $130 billion. That’s roughly the value of Australia’s iron ore exports in 2025 alone. Then consider what boffins call “multiplier effects” – the way that the headline number translates into jobs and income across the wider economy.In total, you’re looking at something like 440,000 Aussies in work today and $25 billion of annual tax revenues – all from digging a metal out of the ground and shipping it overseas.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles