The Commonwealth budget surplus stems from the nation’s resource assets, and to a lesser degree its agricultural strengths. But, rather than fostering these advantages, Australian governments are focused on negating them.

For agriculture, this is seen in ever-mounting land-use restrictions and in the Commonwealth’s intent on stopping the live sheep and beef trade.

The resources industry faces even greater environmental-based curbs on new proposals.

The Commonwealth Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, drummed up specious reasons to knock back two Queensland coal mine proposals this month.