Much has been said about the importance of the mine to the economy of the Northern Territory. What Xstrata and the NT Government do not want the public to know is;

1. That the existing mine has never made a profit.
2. That the existing mine has never payed any royalties to the Northern Territory.
3. That the NT Government subsidises the mine with a $5m per annum electrical subsidy.
4. That the mine is not a significant employer of local Indigenous People.
   

 Additional information can be found in the documents below

ECNT - McArthur River ECONOMIC ISSUES – April 2006