PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The CEO of mining major Rio Tinto has apologised for the distress caused by the company’s unintentional destruction of two sacred Aboriginal caves in Western Australia, saying the company would fully cooperate with the Inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia.

Blasting operations undertaken at Rio’s Brockman mine, in the Pilbara, resulted in the destruction of the caves which showed evidence of continual habitation dating back some 46 000 years.

The lead body for reconciliation in Australia, Reconciliation Australia, subsequently suspended Rio Tinto from its ranks, saying it was a "breathtaking breach of a respectful relationship".

“We are very sorry for the distress we have caused the Puutu Kunti Kurama and Pinikura (PKKP) in relation to Juukan Gorge and our first priority remains rebuilding trust with the PKKP,” Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastian Jacques said on Friday, in his first direct address of the issue.

“Rio Tinto has a long history of working in partnership and creating shared value with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around our operations and across Australia more broadly. We remain absolutely committed to continuing to do so.

“We believe the mining industry has a critical role to play in contributing to the future prosperity of all Australians,” he added.

Jacques on Friday said that the company would also continue to support the Western Australian government in the reform of the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) has also expressed its support in the reform of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, being led by Indigenous Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt.

CME CEO Paul Everingham said that the reform of the Act, which has been under way for two years, would deliver a modernised legislative framework which further empowers Traditional Owners and local knowledge holders to make decisions about their own cultural heritage.   

“The decision by the Australian Parliament yesterday to conduct an inquiry into Juukan Gorge in Western Australia and the operation of the Aboriginal Heritage Act seeks to dilute Western Australia state-based reform which has been underway for two years and will see significant reforms and legislation in the Western Australian Parliament by the end of the year,” he said.

Everingham said the resources sector had partnered with Indigenous people for decades and was among the first to enter into comprehensive agreements with Traditional Owners, which continue to deliver a range of meaningful, long term benefits.

“Operating on Native Title land is a responsibility taken very seriously by the resources industry, and this is demonstrated by the significant and ongoing investment by industry in land use agreements,” he said.

“The resources sector in Western Australia fundamentally supports the empowerment of Indigenous people and has championed beneficial economic and social outcomes for Indigenous people through employment, procurement, agreement making and community investment for many decades.

“Efforts must be directed to this important Western Australian state reform and not diluted by a far-removed inquiry.”