The early 2000s in Australia saw a significant mining boom due to sharply rising mineral prices, which positively impacted mining activities and related sectors but negatively affected other export-oriented sectors like manufacturing and education. This boom led to a substantial appreciation of the Australian dollar and resulted in economic challenges when the boom ended in the early 2010s, compounded by the global financial crisis and decreased demand for natural resources. Additionally, the future demand for Australia's coal exports is uncertain due to environmental concerns regarding its use for power generation.