In recent years, the relationship between China and the West has soured, costing billions of dollars in lost trade. 

But that rift has had an unexpected upside for Australia, with surging demand for some of our raw materials, like lithium. 

Today, the ABC's business editor, Ian Verrender, on the end of the iron ore era, and why Australia's mining luck is set to continue. 

Featured: 

Ian Verrender, ABC business editor