Rio Tinto acknowledges Government’s response to Juukan Gorge report

24 November 2022

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto acknowledges the release of the Australian Federal Government’s response to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia’s report into the destruction of rock shelters in Juukan Gorge on the land of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people (PKKP) in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said, “Since the tragic events of May 2020, we have been tirelessly focused on changing the way we engage and work in partnership with Indigenous communities, to protect and preserve cultural heritage. We acknowledge today’s announcement and will explore the government’s response to the report’s recommendations in detail, as we continue to strive to be the best partner we can be, and play an active role in ensuring heritage sites of exceptional significance are protected.”

This includes:

  • Continuing to work towards remedying and rebuilding our relationship with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people and on the remediation of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters
  • Supporting the strengthening of cultural heritage legislation at both State and Commonwealth levels
  • Shifting to a model of co-management to enhance the protection of heritage and provide better outcomes for Indigenous peoples and our business
  • Revising internal standards, improving risk management systems and strengthening assurance processes
  • Changing our culture and processes to ensure Traditional Owner views are understood at all stages of the mine life

A comprehensive summary of the relevant actions taken by the business was outlined in October’s Communities and Social Performance (CSP) Commitment Disclosure Report.

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK
Matthew Klar
M+ 44 7796 630 637
David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas
Simon Letendre
M +514 796 4973
Malika Cherry
M +1 418 592 7293

Media Relations, Australia
Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739
Jesse Riseborough
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, UK
Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178
David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978
Clare Peever
M +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia
Tom Gallop
M +61 439 353 948
Amar Jambaa
M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 43, 120 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: General

Source: Rio Tinto