b'Canberra observed Figure 2 shows the trends over the last 10 years. The fortunes of the resource companies and the All Ords index remain closely linked, even though only 10 percent of the top 150 companies are in the resource sector. This indicates how important it is to have a strong Australian resource sector.As stated in the Resources and Energy Quarterly for December 2019:Resource and energy commodity exports in 201920 are forecast to set a record of $281 billion, before falling to $256 billion in 202021.Of course, the Minister does not want you to know about the small fall forecast for the next financial year. He just says:Australias resource and energy export earnings are forecast to set a record $281 billion in 2019-20, up Figure 1.Prices in $US for petroleum, coal, iron ore and gold for 2017-2019. Gold and iron ore pricesfrom $279 billion in 2018-19.continue to rise. Petroleum prices have not changed, and the thermal coal price has fallen consistently.Even if the exports do fall in 2020-21, the contribution from the resource industries is crucial to our well-being and that is the important issue.Figure 2.Market capital of the resource companies listed in the top 150 companies on the ASX from July 2000 through December 2019 and the All Ords index, for the same period. The numbers have been normalised to December 2019 $A using the Australian Bureau of Resources Consumer Price Index (CPI).27 PREVIEW FEBRUARY 2020'