Rio Tinto will today detail how it is working in partnership
with Traditional Owners, host communities and independent groups to
strengthen and improve its approach to cultural heritage and
community relations.
In virtual seminars, which will include presentations from Board
and Executive Committee members as well as experts in the field,
Rio Tinto will outline actions it has introduced to strengthen its
performance and governance of cultural heritage following the
destruction of the rockshelters at Juukan Gorge in May 2020 and
outline the steps it will take to further improve its
performance.
One key step is today’s confirmation that an Indigenous Advisory
Group (IAG) will be established to ensure Rio Tinto has a better
understanding of Indigenous culture and issues in Australia,
including at Board level. 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.
Rio Tinto has also commenced work to review and re-define what
is best practice for cultural heritage management in the mining
industry. This work will be done in consultation with the IAG and
other independent parties and will enable Rio Tinto to identify
gaps in current protocols and provide a clear pathway to
re-establish trust over time and regain Rio Tinto’s previous
standing in this area.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: “We have
reflected a great deal as a company and leadership team over recent
months – listening, learning and responding by taking actions to
better manage Traditional Owner partnerships and cultural heritage
aspects of our business.
“One thing is clear – building meaningful and trusting
relationships is fundamental. And that starts 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. 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. This is essential to our
business. We are committed to doing the right thing and working
with our hosts to earn the right to be a trusted partner once
more.”
Following the events at Juukan Gorge, Rio Tinto reviewed its
internal processes and also consulted widely with Traditional
Owners, host communities, governments and other stakeholders. As a
result, the company has significantly strengthened internal
practices, policies and governance.
As part of Rio Tinto’s efforts to increase transparency in its
approach to cultural heritage, the company has also committed to
additional disclosures on the progress of heritage measures being
undertaken. Rio Tinto is also engaging with a number of global
investors and investor groups1, to jointly identify additional
disclosures on:
- Progress against Rio Tinto’s own commitments and internal
work-streams, (including Trusted Partnership Plan), external
obligations and recommendations.
- How Traditional Owners’ views are being sought and considered
in shaping these commitments and Traditional Owners’ perspectives
on how successfully these commitments are being met.
- Enhanced governance arrangements in place to oversee the
company’s progress against these actions.
- How the company is working to advocate for enhanced sector-wide
cultural heritage management and how this is consistent with Rio
Tinto’s internal standards.
Rio Tinto intends to commence with interim reporting in the
third quarter of 2021 and thereafter with predominantly annual
reporting, coupled with periodic disclosure as appropriate. Further
consultation with a broad range of investors and other stakeholders
will continue to assist in developing these disclosures over
time.
The two Communities & Social Performance: Cultural Heritage
seminars will take place on 23 March, 9.00am-10.30am (AEDT) and
10.30am-12.00 pm (GMT). The presentations will be via webcast
followed by a question and answer session. Presenting at the
seminars will be:
Jakob Stausholm – Chief Executive Megan Clark – Non Executive
Director and Sustainability Committee Chair Mark Davies – Group
Executive, Safety, Technical and Projects Kellie Parker – Chief
Executive, Australia Brad Welsh – Chief Advisor, Indigenous Affairs
Alicia Sherwood – General Manager, Communities & Social
Performance, Pacific; and Clayton Walker – President & CEO,
Iron Ore Company of Canada
1 - ACSI, AustralianSuper, Aviva Investors, Aware Super, Brunel
Pension Partnership, CareSuper, Catholic Superannuation Fund, Cbus,
Council of Ethics of the Swedish National Pension Funds, EOS at
Federated Hermes, Equipsuper, HESTA, IFM Investors, Local
Government Super, LUCRF Super, M&G Investments, Telstra Super,
UniSuper, USS Investment Management, Victorian Funds Management
Corporation, Vision Super.
This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Rio
Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210322005814/en/
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