There is a risk that policymakers could react to a growing hostility to mining in some parts of the community, and implement legislation that threatens an industry that contributes substantially to our economy and government budgets.

The average annual yield from mining is $9.5 billion, which is enough to fund the construction of seven or eight new city hospitals, 25 to 30 new regional hospitals or 60 to 70 new schools.

Luke Grant chats with Director and Founder of Adept Economics, Gene Tunny, to find out what threats this industry faces and what would happen to Australia's economy and bottom line were our resources to be culled.