Execs to go over sacred site destruction
The head of global mining giant Rio Tinto and two other executives have resigned after an investor revolt over the destruction of the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia.
Jean-Sebastien Jacques will stay on as chief executive until a successor is found or until March next year, whichever comes first.
Iron ore boss Chris Salisbury and corporate relations manager Simon Niven will also leave the company.
Their resignations come after months of pressure over the destruction of Aboriginal sacred sites dating back 46,000 years.
‘‘What happened at Juukan was wrong,’’
Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson said yesterday.
‘‘We are determined to ensure the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation.’’
Thompson acknowledged a lack of individual accountability had undermined the company’s ability to rebuild trust and move forward. Environment and shareholder activist groups were quick to welcome the resignations.
James Fitzgerald from the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility said the removals were just the first step. ‘‘Investors have stepped up in this instance and demonstrated they will not accept corporate misinformation and the absolute disrespect to cultural sites that has become Rio’s modus operandi,’’ he said.
The traditional owners of the ancient cultural sites, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people, have wanted a more prominent public platform to present their views on the disaster since it took place in May.
They are calling on federal politicians investigating the blast to visit the site and see the full impact of the destruction. – AAP