Rio Tinto has turned to its Danish chief financial officer as its new boss, ignoring calls from politicians to appoint an Australian in the wake of the Juukan caves disaster. Former Woodside board member Jakob Stausholm has been named to help restore the mining giants battered reputation.
Mining companies should be halted from undertaking new exploration or operations on Indigenous sites until stronger protections are made law, according to a report on Rio Tinto’s destruction of Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara.
Senator Dean Smith, a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia since 2016, has taken the opportunity to make additional comments on the Committee’s interim report – “Never Again – Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Senator Smith said it was important to ensure Western Australia’s interests were sufficiently represented in the interim report. The Senator will outline his observations in remarks to the Senate this evening when the interim report is tabled, calling for greater accountability from Rio Tinto and outlining the devastating effect a proposed moratorium would have on the resource and mining industry in Western Australia. COMMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SENATOR SMITH On Rio Tinto: “The destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters was a devastating, and preventable, event from which urgent lessons must be learnt.” “We must deal with Rio Tinto’s conduct now, with a view to holding those responsible to full account, ending the uncertainty for involved parties and beginning to heal the wounds this event has created.” “Rio Tinto must continue to be held accountable for the irreversible damage it has caused and should not believe the investigation into its culpability is over.” “I urge Rio Tinto to genuinely and independently review its actions, rather than its insufficient board review, and be honest and transparent with the Australian people.” “The PKKP can be confident I will champion the movement to ensure Rio Tinto reconstructs the damaged area and delivers above and beyond its commitments.” “Rio Tinto should acknowledge the significant profit generated from Western Australia with greater executive level and board presence in the state, as well as moving the executive responsible for heritage matters from the UK to Australia.” On the WA Resource and Mining Industry: “Rio Tinto’s conduct is not typical of the wider Western Australian resource and mining industry, which is committed to strong relationships with traditional owners and the entire community.” “It is important to understand that we can hold Rio Tinto accountable to a higher standard and deliver regulatory certainty for the WA resource and mining industry – one does not need to stop to achieve the other.” On a Section 18 Moratorium and Other Regulation: “All references to a moratorium must be avoided, as they could inadvertently signal to international and domestic investors a slowdown in WA resource and mining opportunities.” “A moratorium on Section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 would put the brakes on the WA resource and mining industry and risks devastating that industry and everything it supports, including the Indigenous enterprises which service it, the recipients of native title related payments, and the wider Indigenous and Non-Indigenous community in WA.” “A full moratorium would stop MetroNet, the Perth Airport runway, and countless other resource projects across the state. It is a step too far, and its inclusion represents a sovereign risk.” “I disagree with the Committee’s lack of confidence in Section 18 approvals and the suggestion that there is no meaningful involvement by Aboriginal people in their heritage, given both the current membership of the ACMC and the final decision maker, WA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs the Hon. Ben Wyatt.” “The effect of mining on heritage should be minimised, with sites of the significance of Juukan Gorge protected, but traditional owners and industry must be empowered to enter into agreements to manage these heritage matters for mutual benefit into the future.” “Rather than a regulatory overreaction, we should instead use this terrible event as a catalyst to improve agreement making with traditional owners.”
Beechboro Christian School will benefit from the development of a new site and the relocation of classrooms ahead of its opening in 2022, thanks to a Coalition Government grant. The $750,000 grant was announced today by Senator Dean Smith, Senator for Perth’s northern suburbs. Senator Smith said the Morrison Government would contribute to the project through the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure. “This grant makes possible the relocation and modification of existing demountable buildings to a new site that has been purchased by the school. also includes siteworks, landscaping and paving, the construction of a new carpark, as well as fencing, and hard court and play areas,” Senator Smith said. “Beechboro Christian School has a wonderful school community, and these new facilities will further enhance the learning environment for students and the working environment for staff. “Students and their teachers thrive when their school has up-to-date facilities – that’s why the Morrison Government is proud of the Capital Grants Program, which continues to benefit thousands of schools across Australia. “Our Government is ensuring that every child gets a quality education no matter where they go to school. We are providing a record $314.7 billion for all Australian Schools from 2018 to 2029. “I congratulate Beechboro Christian School on their successful grant application and am looking forward to seeing the very positive impact the new facilities will have there.” The funding announcement was one of 158 projects approved for funding under the Capital Grants Program to commence in 2021. Schools that want to learn more about the Capital Grants Program can visit https://www.education.gov.au/capital-grants-non-government-schools.
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Students and staff at Alta-1 College will benefit from new facilities in Joondalup, including offices, a boardroom, meeting rooms, teacher preparation space and three student learning areas. Dean Smith, Senator for Perth’s northern suburbs, yesterday officiated at the opening ceremony for the project, which has been funded by the Morrison Coalition Government. The Morrison Government contributed $1 million for the upgrade through the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure. Senator Smith said the facilities provide a safe environment for the students to engage and learn in. “It was great to visit Alta-1 College to see the finished project and hear about the positive impact it will have on students and their teachers,” Senator Smith said. “Alta-1 College has a wonderful school community and these new facilities will further enhance the learning environment here. “We are ensuring that every child gets a quality education no matter where they go to school, but this is testament to the Morrison Government’s commitment to schools in Perth’s northern suburbs. “Our Government is providing record funding for government schools, for Catholic schools and for Independent schools. School funding has increased every year under our Government. “We are delivering real, needs-based funding that is matched by national reforms that will drive better results and outcomes, as recommended by David Gonski in his Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.” More information about the Capital Grants Program is at https://www.education.gov.au/capital-grants-non-government-schools.
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104 young people responded to a COVID-19 survey designed to measure their pandemic experience. The survey, operated through Senator Dean Smith’s Facebook page, asked them to compare their concerns and priorities pre and following COVID-19. While climate change remained the greatest overall concern, the biggest change was increasing anxiety over jobs and unemployment. The results are in from Senator Dean Smith’s COVID-19 Gen Z Survey, which closed recently after running from mid-July. The survey was aimed at 18-21 year olds from Perth’s Northern Suburbs and 73% of those who responded were from that part of the city. 64% of respondents were female and 33% were male. Senator for Perth’s Northern Suburbs Dean Smith and UWA post-graduate student Jake Harvey, who is an intern in the Senator’s office, designed the survey questions. “This was a way of learning more about and better understanding how the pandemic has affected young people in the Northern Suburbs,“ Senator Smith said. “It has been wonderful to receive so many responses and get a genuine insight into what local 18-21 year olds are thinking.” “Our aim was to give young people a voice and this has achieved that, which helps me to better represent them here and in Canberra.” Respondents were asked about their top three personal concerns and top three issues for Australia, both pre and following COVID-19. Stress and mental health remained the two most significant personal concerns before and following the pandemic, however physical health replaced university fees in third place following COVID-19. “This is evidence of the pandemic’s negative effect on the mental health of young people, as well as the emerging toll on physical health with gyms closed for extended periods,” Mr Harvey said. When it came to national issues, climate change remained the top priority, but there was a significant increase in the importance of jobs as a result of COVID-19. 36% of respondents rated jobs as the biggest issue for Australia pre-COVID-19, jumping to 66% following COVID-19. “The frequency in which jobs has been selected as a top concern has nearly doubled, supporting the data that suggests young people in particular have been badly affected by pandemic job losses,” Mr Harvey said.
Congratulations again to RSL Wanneroo Sub-branch on their new clubrooms and exciting plans for the future! It was a privilege to share the news in Parliament and pay tribute to the great work its members are doing in our community.