GEMCO responds after two charged with deprivation of liberty over mine incident

GEMCO has announced a security upgrade after mine workers were terrorised by intruders at the site and a prominent Territorian has demanded action. Read what’s happening.

After a horror week at its Groote Eylandt mine site where an axe was allegedly held against a female mineworker’s throat, GEMCO owners South32 has announced changes to security to improve employee safety.

A juvenile and a 20-year-old man have been charged in relation to an incident where an unidentified group of people entered the mine compound about 2am Saturday.

The mine was again placed into lockdown on Tuesday when two men armed with axes were seen approaching the mine.

Police deployed five additional officers and a police dog to try and secure worker safety at the site.

South32 has broken its silence on this week’s incursions at the GEMCO mine.

The NT government, police and GEMCO met this week after Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the incident would have economic implications.

A spokesman for GEMCO said the tougher security measures were a consequence of this week’s incidents.

He said the company engaged professionally trained security teams at its Australian operations and would be beefing up safety at GEMCO.

“At GEMCO, we have implemented additional security measures and protocols following two recent very serious incidents which resulted in us enacting our lockdown procedures,” he said.

“We are working closely with the Northern Territory Police, the Northern Territory government and the Anindilyakwa Land Council on this matter and we thank each of them for their assistance and support to date.”

Property Council NT director Ruth Palmer wants action on crime.

Property Council NT executive director Ruth Palmer said the latest crime statistics, which included a 28 per cent hike in house break-ins and 9 per cent increase in commercial break-ins, demanded action from government.

“What is concerning is that these incidents are no longer limited to the cover of darkness, many are now occurring in broad daylight in public locations, putting people at risk,” Ms Palmer said.

“The last two weeks have seen assaults up on retail staff, and more disturbingly, physically violent acts in our busy laneways.

“The liveability, safety, and reputation of the NT is at stake. Increasing crime rates threaten the attractiveness of our region for potential investors, tourists, international students, and those considering making the Northern Territory their home.

“We urgently call upon the NT government to take immediate and decisive action.”

Two charged with deprivation of liberty over mine incident

The recent attack on workers by trespassers at GEMCO’s Groote Eylandt manganese mine has re-opened debate about why large businesses do not base operations in Darwin.

Security fences at GEMCO’s mine were breached early on Saturday morning when an undisclosed number of people entered the mine site forcing a lockdown and terrorising a female employee.

A mine worker was injured when a screw driver was allegedly thrown through a glass door by one of the intruders.

South32 has broken its silence on this week’s incursions at the GEMCO mine.

Police have charged a 17-year-old with criminal damage, deprivation of liberty, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, unlawful entry and theft and a 20-year-old was charged with criminal damage, deprivation of liberty, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, recklessly endanger serious harm, unlawful entry and theft.

The teenager was bailed to appear in court on November 10 and the 20-year-old was remanded to appear on November 15. Police investigations are continuing.

The mine was again locked-down on Tuesday when two men armed with axes were seen approaching the perimeter boundary.

The attacks follow an incident earlier this year when GEMCO employees were caught up in two violent incidents on aircraft flying into and out of the mine.

Despite its status as one of the NT’s biggest mines, GEMCO’s majority owners South32 have for years resisted NT government pressure to establish a footprint in the Territory.

The mine’s owners ignored NT government pleas to establish a presence in Darwin and most of its workers fly out of Cairns, despite the company’s large Northern Territory asset.

Multinational mine giant Anglo American has a 40 per cent stake in the operation.

According to a long-time Territory figure who requested anonymity, GEMCO’s employees prefer the comfort and convenience of being based in Cairns than Darwin’s relative remoteness and isolation.

A large proportion of the mine’s thousand or so employees choose to live outside the NT, many of those in Cairns or other far north Queensland centres who fly-in, fly-out of the Territory.

“Cairns is a hub for most of their people because they don’t want to live in Darwin,” the contact said.

“Darwin is a black hole.”

Mine owners South32 and Anglo American declined to comment directly on the workforce issues but on social media a South32 spokesman condemned the violence.

“This was a very serious incident, and we are treating it as such,” the statement said.

“We are continuing to provide support to members of our workforce who have been impacted. The safety of our teams is our priority.”

Bryan de Caires, CEO of Australian Security Industry Association

GEMCO’s owners aren’t the only ones to snub the NT.

Aside from the LNG processing plant and local office, most of Japanese energy giant Inpex’ operations are based in WA including the company’s head office in Perth and marine supply base in Broome.

Defence also recently snubbed the NT with only 100 additional troops deployed to Darwin because of difficulties retaining the families of service personnel.

Security expert Bryan de Caires said the presence of armed intruders in the GEMCO mine was a “troubling escalation”.

“It either shows a degree of planning or their desperation which is concerning either way,” Mr de Caires said.