Rio Tinto continued to lay explosives at Juukan Gorge after concerns raised | 7.30

Summary

Rio Tinto's destruction of 46,000-year-old rock shelters in Western Australia's Pilbara region has sparked outrage and a Senate inquiry. The company's decision to blast the site, despite warnings from traditional owners, has led to accusations of willful destruction and cultural loss. Rio Tinto's executives, including CEO John Sebastian Jacks, have resigned over the incident, and questions are raised about the state government's approval process. The inquiry is ongoing, with the traditional owners awaiting a final report.

Takeaways

• 🏺 Rio Tinto's destruction of a 46,000-year-old national treasure in Western Australia has caused irreparable damage and cultural loss.
• 💥 The company's actions at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region were deliberate, despite knowing the site's significance.
• 🛑 Rio Tinto laid additional explosives after traditional owners raised concerns, indicating a disregard for their input and the site's heritage.
• 📜 The traditional owners' submission to a Senate inquiry revealed a lack of response from government officials when they tried to intervene.
• 🚫 Rio Tinto executives claimed ignorance of the site's importance post-blast, despite archaeological surveys highlighting its value.
• 💔 The destruction has led to immeasurable cultural and spiritual loss for the traditional owners, causing profound grief.
• 🤝 Rio Tinto had considered alternative options that would have avoided damage to the rock shelters but chose a more profitable path.
• 💼 High-level resignations at Rio Tinto, including the CEO and other executives, have occurred in the wake of the incident.
• 🏛 Questions are being raised about the state government's approval process and potential conflicts of interest in the decision to destroy the shelters.
• 📉 The incident has severely damaged Rio Tinto's reputation as a global leader in heritage management, with recovery being a long and uncertain process.
• 📝 The Senate inquiry is ongoing, with a final report expected after meeting with the traditional owners to further investigate the chain of events.

Q & A

What significant event occurred at Chicken Gorge in WA's Pilbara region?

The blasts at Chicken Gorge destroyed ancient rock shelters of extreme importance to the Australian nation, reducing 46,000 years of history to rubble.

What was Rio Tinto's initial response to the destruction of the rock shelters?

Rio Tinto claimed that senior executives were not aware of the site's significance until after the blasts, despite archaeological surveys revealing its importance.

How did the traditional owners react to the destruction of the rock shelters?

The traditional owners submitted their side of the story to a senate inquiry, expressing immeasurable cultural and spiritual loss, profound grief, and demanding accountability.

What actions did Rio Tinto take in the days leading up to the blasts?

Rio Tinto laid more than 100 additional explosives into the gorge after the traditional owners had made contact and raised concerns.

What attempts were made by the traditional owners to prevent the destruction?

The traditional owners emailed and phoned Rio Tinto multiple times, briefed a lawyer, and tried to get in touch with government officials, but received no response.

What were Rio Tinto's considerations for the mine expansion that led to the destruction?

Rio Tinto considered three options that would have avoided damage to the rock shelters but chose a fourth option to pursue an additional 135 million dollars in iron ore.

What was the role of the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee in this incident?

The committee gave the government the green light to destroy the shelters in 2013, with the chairman at the time, Gavin Fielding, declaring he held shares in Rio Tinto.

What consequences did Rio Tinto face as a result of the incident?

Rio Tinto's chief executive, John Sebastian Jacks, resigned, and other executives like Chris Salisbury and Simone Niven also stepped down.

What is the current status of the government's involvement in the incident?

The state government's approval process is being questioned, and the senate inquiry is waiting to meet with the traditional owners before handing down its final report.

What are the implications for Rio Tinto's reputation as a global leader in heritage management?

Rio Tinto's reputation may never recover, as the destruction is considered willful and the significance of the sites is enormous.

What are the calls for further investigation into the incident?

There are calls for a royal commission into the entire episode to investigate the chain of events and the government's approval process.