Aboriginal relations
The land we use was traditionally managed by Aboriginal people, who continue to have an association with it. The Aboriginal community is a key stakeholder in the approval process for any land development proposal. Aboriginal people are also part of the communities in which we operate.
Our approach
Rio Tinto Coal Australia's core Aboriginal Relations objective is to obtain and maintain cost effective legal access to land. We aim to do this through building constructive relationships with Aboriginal communities who have interests in land on which Rio Tinto Coal Australia's operations are located or proposed.
This is achieved by:
- Developing Aboriginal community agreements
- Implementing Aboriginal community development programmes
- Mitigating impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage
- Increasing Aboriginal employment opportunities
- Building cross-cultural awareness across the business.
Agreements
Land access agreements serve to formalise our relationship with Aboriginal communities. In 2007 we had a target to finalise a number of land access agreements. Progress on these is as follows:
- Agreements with the Wangan Jagalingou people for Clermont Mine Project and Blair Athol Mine, and with the Kungoulu people for Kestrel Mine, were developed and are planned to be executed in 2008
- Work is progressing on implementing the agreement with the Wiri people for Hail Creek Mine, and the community development trust is planned to become operational in 2008.
Aboriginal community development
These programmes aim to address key issues and concerns of Aboriginal communities, particularly in the areas of education, training, employment and business development.
Support for these programmes is provided by community development funds, including the Tarong Mine Aboriginal Community Interest Consultative Committee (ACICC) and Coal & Allied's Aboriginal Development Consultative Committee (ADCC).
A 2007 target was to promote sustainability and innovation in Aboriginal business enterprise by sharing information across relevant Aboriginal communities in New South Wales and Queensland. Both the ACICC in Queensland and the ADCC in NSW supported business enterprise projects during 2007. For example, the ACICC supported the development of the Bunya Wakka Wakka Cultural and Heritage Corporation, an initiative that has enabled the local Aboriginal community to better facilitate business opportunities and financial management. Read more in our feature story.
Cultural heritage
Rio Tinto recognises and respects the significance of Australia's cultural heritage, and in particular the cultural heritage of Aboriginal people who have traditional ownership of, or historical connections to, the land on which Rio Tinto businesses operate.
In 2007 Rio Tinto Coal Australia met its target to have the Rio Tinto Cultural Heritage Management System fully operational at all sites.
In 2007 we also implemented a strategy to manage and protect scar trees. The strategy includes an agreed process for the verification, removal and temporary storage of scar trees when they are located in areas to be disturbed by mining operations.
Read more in our feature story.
Aboriginal employment
The Rio Tinto Coal Australia Indigenous Employment Strategy includes direct employment, encourages contractors to employ indigenous people and supports the development of indigenous owned enterprises to provide services to mining operations. Read more about the strategy and workforce diversity.
Cross-cultural awareness
Rio Tinto Coal Australia has developed a business wide Cross-Cultural Awareness Programme for employees and contractors, which aims to:
- Provide employees with a greater understanding of Rio Tinto Coal Australia's approach
- Develop a greater appreciation for, and awareness of, Aboriginal culture and history
- Provide leaders within the business with skills to assist in working with Aboriginal people.
Read Pathways, our Aboriginal relations newsletter.
