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Reports that governments, companies and unions are having to confront the costs of the comforts enjoyed by Australia as the leader of the coal-export trade in the face of the financial crisis in Asia and increased competition due to privatization. Direct competitive tendering by Japan and the deregulation in the energy industries of Asia; Production-cost advantages in South Africa and Indonesia. INSET: Radical idea bound to steam up everyone, by Ben Sandilands..

Reports that Australian coal mining company, Portman Mining has been overlooked by a stock market afraid of companies with connections to Asia during their financial crisis in 1998. Portman reporting greater profit, a raided dividend and other measures; Little reaction from the market; Comments from Chairman George Jones; Comparison with mining company QCT; Portman's Burton mine seen as a profit generator.