CULTURAL PROPERTY – PROTECTION – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Voice ‘won’t fill heritage law void’

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Original article by Paige Taylor, Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Aug-23

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has apologised for his government’s ill-fated Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, which will be repealed just five weeks after taking effect. He concedes that the controversial laws had "unintentionally caused stress, confusion and division in the community". Cook adds that the intent of the legislation was to "prevent another Juukan Gorge", but the government had got the balance wrong. WA will revert to the 1972 cultural heritage laws, which will be amended to include provisions such as giving traditional owners the right of appeal. Meanwhile, Indigenous leader Tom Calma says the proposed Voice to parliament will have a federal focus and will not advise on state cultural heritage issues unless a state approaches it for such advice.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

No more welcome to country for Rio Tinto, Indigenous owners say

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Original article by Lorena Allan
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 6-Jul-21

The Eastern Guruma people have told Rio Tinto that they will no longer perform ‘welcome to country’ ceremonies at any of its events or any events that it sponsors. They have also refused to have any meetings with Rio Tinto for at least three months. The Eastern Guruma people are angry with Rio Tinto after it was revealed that priceless cultural materials rescued from their sacred sites were thrown in a rubbish tip in the 1990s, and that Rio did not tell them of the error. Forty per cent of Rio’s Pilbara mine holdings in Western Australia are on Eastern Guruma traditional lands.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

WA to keep approving mines while new heritage laws in limbo

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 12-Jan-21

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says Rio Tinto’s destruction of ancient indigenous rock shelters at Juukan Gorge will continue to have repercussions across the mining sector. However, McGowan says his government will not accept any blame for delays in project approvals in the wake of the scandal, arguing that mining companies are now likely to be more cautious about approving projects. He adds that the state government will continue to approve mining projects under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and that new heritage laws will be a priority if it wins the election in March.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Rio, traditional owners healing Juukan Gorge wounds

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 24-Dec-20

Resources giant Rio Tinto and the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura traditional owners have issued a joint statement about future co-operation in the wake of the destruction of ancient indigenous rock shelters in May 2020. The PKKP Aboriginal Corporation acknowledged that Rio Tinto has taken action to address the "hurt and devastation" caused by the blasting at Juukan Gorge, but noted that much more work must be done to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

We’ll give you more of Pilbara spoils: Rio

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 7 : 15-Oct-20

Rio Tinto has committed to ensuring that indigenous peoples get a better deal under its revised land use agreements in the Pilbara. Rio Tinto has responded to the global condemnation over its destruction of ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge by vowing to ensure that traditional owners receive a greater share of the economic benefits arising from its iron ore projects in the region. Rio Tinto has also advised that it will reassess all of its activities that could potentially have an impact on indigenous heritage sites.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

BHP moves to protect heritage sites in Pilbara

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 15 & 20 : 18-Sep-20

BHP’s Australian head of minerals Edgar Basto has appeared before a parliamentary inquiry into Rio Tinto’s destruction of ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge. He said the resources giant is engaging with traditional owners with regard to its $US3.4bn ($4.7bn) South Flank iron ore project in the wake of the incident. BHP was given approval under Western Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage Act to destroy 40 Aboriginal heritage sites just days after Rio Tinto’s blasting at Juukan Gorge in May. However, BHP has already agreed to change its plans for South Flank to protect at least 10 of the sites.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Heritage site row forces BHP to hold fire on $5b project

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 12-Jun-20

BHP has halted plans to destroy indigenous heritage sites as part of its development of the US3.6 billion ($5.2 billion) South Flank iron ore mine in Western Australia. The mine is slated to produce 80 million tonnes of ore per annum, with the WA government having given BHP permission to proceed with destruction of the sites in May. BHP has indicated that it will not disturb any of the sites in question until it has had more talks with the Banjima people. The traditional owners had welcomed the opportunities afforded by the development of the South Flank mine when a comprehensive agreement on its development was signed in 2015.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO