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.

Contacts

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