You could hardly imagine a worse report on the state of Australia's environment, and the law's capacity to protect it, than that released on Thursday.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Juukan Gorge
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Before the goldrush, Indigenous people told stories about how the bronzewing pigeon seeded precious minerals across the land. Europeans stole not just land, but the value deep within it.
Rio Tinto's own staff wanted the blast stopped.
For far too long, mining companies have let their social and cultural heritage commitments slide. The inquiry report should be a wake-up call for the industry.
Heritage is non-renewable — just like the mineral wealth of this country.
There are many questions about the inquiry into the destruction of an Aboriginal heritage site, including how it will be conducted, what will be publicly disclosed and who will be protected.
The destruction of the 46,000 year old site Juukan Gorge forces us to confront archaeology and history in Australia.
It's a devastating loss, but the destruction of a culturally significant Aboriginal site is not an isolated incident. Rio Tinto was acting within the law.
Top contributors
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Professor and Director, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland
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Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Australian National University
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Professorial Research Fellow, The University of Queensland
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Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University
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Professor of History, La Trobe University
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Director, Centre for Rock Art Research + Management, University of Western Australia
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Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University
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Lecturer in Archaeology, Flinders University
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Research Manager, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland
