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 2008 we had a target to execute 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 Kangoulu people for Kestrel Mine, were executed in 2008
- Work is progressing on implementing the agreement with the Wiri people for Hail Creek Mine, and the Wiri Yuwiburra Community Benefits Trust became operational in 2008.
Aboriginal community development
These programmes aim to address key issues and concerns for 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 Clermont Aboriginal Community Development Fund, Coal & Allied's Aboriginal Development Consultative Committee (ADCC), the Kestrel Aboriginal Community Development Fund and Hail Creek's Wiri Yuwiburra Community Benefits Trust.
A 2008 target was to establish Aboriginal community development funds at Blair Athol, Clermont and Kestrel mines. These funds became operational in 2008 and the Hail Creek Wiri Yuwiburra Community Benefits Trust was also launched. Read more in our media release.
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 2008 Rio Tinto Coal Australia met its target to establish a three year Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment buffer (a survey that establishes the presence of physical Aboriginal heritage) at each operating mine.
In 2008 we also finalised a draft cultural heritage management agreement with the Kangoulu people at Kestrel Mine. This agreement is to be implemented in 2009.
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.
