Any election creates a varied and often emotive reaction across the nation.
And the mining industry is no different.
This most recent election, which unsurprisingly saw Labor decimated and the Coalition sweep to power, has definitely created a schism in the industry.
On the day following the election we asked our followers on Facebook what they thought of the change in the leadership, and what effect this would have on the mining industry.
Well we weren't disappointed.
We were inundated with a number of wildly different responses: pro-Labor, pro-Liberal, pro-Palmer, and pro-leaving the country.
From the people on the ground themselves through to the people that represent those on the ground (predominately the CFMEU's Stephen Smyth) we were given insight into how miners believe this new government will impact the industry.
Some believed that it would only be good – an axing off the mining tax, the shafting of the carbon tax, and encouraging the resources industry into creating Mining Boom 3.0 ( as the spike before the GFC and the delirious highs of the great boom stood out as the progenitors).
Others, however, were not of the same ilk.
Omens of doom were thrown about quickly and assuredly.
Predictions of the new government handing over the reins of power to China, a revival of WorkChoices and the gross expansion and ease of 457 visas applications were all forecasts from those disappointed with the majority of the nation's recent election choice.
Quickly arguments between our users blew up.
Ad hominem attacks of the "you're a f**king goose mate" variety became more common.
All within the space of an hour and a half mind.
Both sides painted completely different pictures of our nation's future under our 28th prime minster Tony Abbott.
Both could be right to a degree.
And this isn't even including the comments on our Twitter feed.
But as were only literally hours into this new leadership it demonstrated the clearly emotive nature of this election, and the fact that many people felt like they never had a clear choice or party to believe in to begin with.
As we settle in to the first month of this new government, the team here at Australian Mining wait with bated breath to see what happens to this industry, but with the gradual slow down in demand from China and India, as well as the phase shift of mining from an exploration and ramp-up focus to actual moving the stuff we are likely to see a new era in our industry.
The simple fact remains that under any government we will face tough times, whether they are restrictive policies, a lack of support (as Ian Plimer elucidated so clearly – no government understands how to turn rocks into money), and what occasionally feel like direct attacks the industry will survive.
Australia was never really built on the sheep's back, despite the image many portray of the nation as one of agriculture; we are a nation built on the sweat of the brow of the man with the shovel.
We demonstrated it again over these last few years, and mining will remain, as it always has been, a major part of Australia's economy and national identity.
We will remain.