>> Australia in general, and my specific mining state in particular, over produces food - again with a small population, again with big industrial scale machines.

Great, and what about everything else on this world you need. Do you also build computers and network equipment to access hacker news? The problem with technology is that it requires specialized knowledge which in turn requires people who specialize in it. There is a good reason why small disconnected communities stay the way they are and do not advance.