Rio chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques in WA to apologise to Juukan Gorge traditional owners
Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques will meet face-to-face with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people in the Pilbara to apologise over the company’s Juukan Gorge rock shelter blast.
A spokesman for the miner confirmed Mr Jacques arrived in Perth two weeks ago and had just completed two weeks in hotel quarantine.
“After the mandatory period in quarantine he was able to spend time with Rio Tinto colleagues in the Perth office,” he said.
“He is now headed to the Pilbara where he will have an opportunity to engage with traditional owners and connect with the Rio Tinto iron ore team.”
The destruction of 46,000-year-old heritage sites at Juukan Gorge in May triggered widespread condemnation of Rio Tinto and its engagement with traditional owners.
After an internal review of the lead up to the blast, Rio Tinto’s remuneration committee wiped $3 million of short term incentives from Mr Jacques and $1.8 million of long term incentives.
Corporate relations boss Simone Niven and iron ore chief executive Chris Salisbury both lost about $1 million.
A joint parliamentary committee into the blast has revealed shocking details around the decisions made in the lead up to the blast, including that there were three other options to expand the Brockman 4 mine that would have avoided the gorge.
The PKKP were contacted for comment.
Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s business reporter.
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