Juukan Gorge inquiry continues

The parliamentary inquiry into Rio Tinto’s destruction of Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge will hold three public hearings next week.

Witnesses including from Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal corporation, Rio and the state government will be heard.

Northern Australia Committee chair Warren Entsch said the upcoming hearings would be a critical stage of the committee’s work.

“We are looking forward to hearing from the PKKP to get their perspective on how the tragedy unfolded and what impact it has had on their community,” he said.

“One of the key objectives of this inquiry is to look at what needs to change to ensure that Indigenous heritage is better protected in the future.

“Part of that is really digging into what went wrong at Rio and how it allowed this to happen.

“The other part is about strengthening legislative protection, and so we look forward to hearing what the WA government is doing to ensure that we never have another situation like the destruction that occurred at the Juukan Gorge.”

In its submission, PKKP said Rio did not protect the gorge despite the Indigenous corporation – along with anthropologists and archaeologists – having provided London-based miner with information on the significance of the Juukan rock shelters.

Rio, following its previous appearance at the inquiry, provided further information to the committee suggesting the company held discussions with PKKP prior to the destruction of the rock shelters.

Rio said the significance of the site was well understood by both sides at the time contracts were signed.

The state government also provided further information to the inquiry, highlighting features of its draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill and the role of its proposed Local Aboriginal Heritage Services.