Demand for labour has been a key issue raised at the annual Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum in the gold capital of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. "Whether they be building trades or mechanical trades, we've got to put a lot more effort into that." Mr Walker agreed the demand was being driven by companies trying to cash in on the gold price by going into or restarting production. The gold price is also trading about 20 per cent higher than the last forum in August 2025. "But once you clear that point, every thousand dollars the gold price is up, we're making another $150 million in the year," he said.