> except for the steal part - your comment would be better without exaggerating
It is hyperbole, but still appropriate when you consider the meaning of the phrase 'it was a steal'. As with pretty much all extracted resources in Australia, the royalties paid are a pittance relative to the value. The abundance of this type of common wealth in Australia makes people undervalue them in my opinion (to the benefit of the extractors - who have very active and successful lobbyists).
It is hyperbole, but still appropriate when you consider the meaning of the phrase 'it was a steal'. As with pretty much all extracted resources in Australia, the royalties paid are a pittance relative to the value. The abundance of this type of common wealth in Australia makes people undervalue them in my opinion (to the benefit of the extractors - who have very active and successful lobbyists).