Plenty of life left in mining boom: CEOs AUSTRALIAN corporate leaders have questioned Kevin Rudd's claim that the mining boom is over, expressing confidence that the economy is set to benefit from the income phase of the boom as the higher production phase for iron ore and liquefied natural gas kicks in during the next few years. And they have called on any new government to ensure the focus is on productivity improvements to help ensure that the more than $260 billion capital expenditure phase in iron ore and LNG expansion is delivered on time.