Property of the Australian people?

Federal Labor keeps telling us that the mined natural resources are the "property of the Australian people". It's good political demagogy, but I find it difficult to work out how it could be true considering the tax revenue goes directly into the coffers of the federal government. The Australian people don't even get to touch it before it is stolen away from them by the federal government. How could it possibly be 'your' money if you don't get to decide how it is spent?

I think Martin Ferguson revealed the reality of the situation when he said "we want our rightful share". In other words, the money is not for the Australian people, but for "we" the politicians and the bureaucrats, to use in our efforts to micro-manage your lives.