Mining giant Rio Tinto adds steps to repair Indigenous relationship, says ‘we are guests on their land’

Rio Tinto has taken new steps to recover from its brand-damaging scandal after blowing up sacred Indigenous caves to reach more iron ore.

Rio Tinto continues to be at pains to repair its damaged Indigenous relations by improving its cultural heritage management in a bid to avoid future scandals like the Juukan Gorge cave blast.

The mining giant on Tuesday held virtual seminars to demonstrate the steps it had taken to make amends after blowing up the 46,000-year-old rock shelters in Western Australia’s Pilbara region in May last year. The destruction sparked international outrage and claimed the scalps of key executives.

The seminars included presentations from board and executive committee members as well as experts in the field to outline actions Rio Tinto had introduced to strengthen its cultural heritage performance and governance.

Rio Tinto has also formed an Indigenous advisory group with the aim of gleaning a better understanding of Indigenous culture and issues in Australia, including at board level, and looking at the gaps in current protocols that led to the detonation.

“It follows broad consultation with traditional owners and Indigenous leaders with the aim to introduce more diversity and breadth of views, including external perspective, in decision-making,” the miner said.

Rio Tinto’s Indigenous advisory group was born out of last year’s Juukan Gorge scandal. Picture: PKKP Aboriginal Corporation/AFP

The dual-listed company’s upper echelons have long been criticised for being too detached from their cash cow Pilbara iron ore industry, with WA’s now former Aboriginal affairs minister and Yamatji man Ben Wyatt saying a chasm had emerged between its London-based board and the region.

The miner’s new chief executive, Danish businessman Jakob Stausholm, has said the cave destruction “should never have happened” and the company would seek to repair its relationship with traditional owners.

“We must focus on real engagement with our communities, understanding their felt experience and never forgetting that, ultimately, we are guests on their land,” Mr Stausholm said.

“And, as guests, we must respect our hosts and work with them to understand their priorities and concerns and minimise our impacts.

“We also must remember that our stay is temporary. We need to ensure we leave a positive legacy.”

Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm says the destruction of the caves ‘should never have happened’. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Debby Blakey, chief executive of superannuation fund HESTA, noted Rio Tinto was at the start of a very long process of rebuilding trust.

HESTA says it led talks with Rio Tinto supported by a group of Australian, UK and European investors, including other superannuation giants, “that sought key transparency commitments aimed at giving ... confidence the company was making progress”.

“Investors put forward very clear requests around what disclosure and governance arrangements we needed to see to ensure that the tragic heritage destruction at Juukan Gorge never happens again,” Ms Blakey said.

Rio Tinto said it would provide ongoing updates on its commitments to Indigenous groups and cultural governance.

“It’s vital that we see ongoing public reporting so investors can monitor progress over time and all stakeholders can have confidence that what Rio commits to is implemented and is effective,” Ms Blakey said.