Quick Google search results:

BHP Profit in 2008 = $15.5b USD, 2009 = $10.72b USD
Rio profit 2008 = $15.9b USD, 2009 = $7.86b USD
Woodside 2008 = $1.7b, 2009 = $1.8b

Australian Major Bank profits - 2007 = $27.1b AUD, 2008 = $21b, 2009 = $35b

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MY09 Evo X - 1.6bar@3500rpm - got lag?
Barbagallo - 56.03 (S); 1:08.09 (L)
Collie - 50.77
Possibly the most under-driven Evo X in the world??

and how much of that profit did these banks invest back into the economy and have they been net employers or have they actually reduced the number of australians employed

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Funny looking German Subaru

Heck even Woolworths made $1.9 billion last year...

Edit:

Fortune Global 500 has 9 Australian companies: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...Australia.html

N.B. I know revenues do not equate to profits, but interesting none the less.

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[COLOR="Gray"]550Nm off a 2L... Just wish it was in the dak dak...[/COLOR]

Nauli, firstly most of my comments made about WA succeeding are made tongue in cheek, however, I'm am adverse to the continuous "money grabbing" that occurs from WA coffers (GST distribution anyone, health care policy of the current Fed Govt, super profits resource tax, etc) to support the failing states of NSW and Victoria. Nothing like a group of high powered white collars sitting in offices making a huge profit of the mineral development everywhere else (being WA, SA, NT and Queensland).

Secondly, I'm a (small L) liberal. Rights of the individual over the rights of the state - so egalitarian socialistic stances aren't completely against my vein BUT I'm not going to have a bleeding heart. Teach a man to fish he eats for ever - give him a fish he eats for day. I've had enough of "feeding" everyone else rather than teaching them to take care of themselves.

Thirdly, perhaps a look at history to see what stupidity in decision making can lead to (Khemlani anyone?). Go have a look at the detriment that resource grabbing taxes did to Canada in particular Alberta. Or Whitlam and Khemlani had on Australia's mining industry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loans_Affair

Surprisingly, the Khemlani loan was to help build an uranium enrichment plant - by a Labor Federal Govt!

In the end, credit and investment in our global economy is one of the fastest moving concepts. I can barely cross a border in a day , yet capital can move from one place to another in milliseconds. As such, the time lag to develop resource money making developments can take forever in comparison to how fast credit can move into Australia and now OUT.

Before any of you throw around some more "your left" or "your right" statements. I've been a swinging voter all my life because than they have to take me into consideration, I have an ex who's an union organiser and ALP staffer and sympathiser, I have family members who are Liberal 500, more family members who are federal govt staffers for both Liberal and Labor prime ministers now and present.

Even Rudd realises that if he tried to put a SUPER TAX on capital (banks) we'd be completely farked in all Australian industries. The current 50% discount on tax levels on capital investments is proof of that. Even the lefties continue to tax the effort/profit of labouring much more that the effort/profit of capital.

Again, small L liberal - rights of the individual before the rights of the state!

Flame away!

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[COLOR=Black]Liberty GT Spec B tuned 240 HP & 372 Nm at the hubs.[/COLOR] "Instead of banning high performance cars - ban low performance drivers"

hmm, maybe everyone should vote 'democrats'...

do they still even have a party office?

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Long live the WRC

Hahahahaha - don't democrats and greens just sleep with the enemy

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[COLOR=Black]Liberty GT Spec B tuned 240 HP & 372 Nm at the hubs.[/COLOR] "Instead of banning high performance cars - ban low performance drivers"

Giz Watson uuuuwwwwwwwwwww

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Funny looking German Subaru

Oh don't get me started on that one. Giz and her "partner" are the crux of why the ONLY Green lower house rep ever is now an independent. So they "screwed" their own to get the "chair sniffer".

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/mp-a...-1225863442000

I often wonder, why is it that a if a female hating male is a "misogynist" , YET there is not the equivalent for a male hating woman.

I got it - a "watsonist"

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[COLOR=Black]Liberty GT Spec B tuned 240 HP & 372 Nm at the hubs.[/COLOR] "Instead of banning high performance cars - ban low performance drivers"

LOL Andrew
There is only one green that I support

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Funny looking German Subaru

So who DO we vote for if not Labour, and we don't like Abbott?

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delonixradar.com.au - use coupon code "PWRX" for large discount on all HID kits