'Appalling' abuse: Australia to push miners to set up register of
offenders
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[June 23, 2022]
By Praveen Menon and Byron Kaye
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will push its
mining industry to set up a register of sexual harassment perpetrators
to help rein in abuse, a cabinet minister said, after a state government
report detailed cases of "horrifying" and "appalling" behaviour against
women.
The inquiry by mineral-rich Western Australia, home to the bulk of the
country's iron ore industry, also criticised mining giants such as BHP
and Rio Tinto for ignoring or overlooking unlawful and criminal
behaviour.
The release of the report on Thursday followed a year-long investigation
into concerns about a culture of sexism and bullying that fuelled public
anger about workplace conditions last year, leading to what has been
called Australia's MeToo moment..
Australia accounts for about half of the world's iron ore exports and
women have long complained of sexual harassment in so-called "fly in,
fly out" mining camps, temporary accommodation set up at remote mines to
house workers.
"Any case of sexual harassment is one too many," said Resources Minister
Madeleine King in a statement, which added that the federal government
would work with Western Australia to support all 24 recommendations in
the report.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jun/23/images/ads/current/napa_sda_HEROES_2022.png)
"The Australian Government stands ready to help the resources sector
stamp out sexual harassment, which has no place in the modern
workplace," she added.
Examples cited in the report included stalking, texting of lewd
material, requests for sexual favours in return for a permanent job and
sexual assaults.
One woman told the inquiry how she was knocked unconscious in her
accommodation hut and awoke to find her jeans and underpants around her
ankles, leaving her feeling "sick, ashamed, violated, dirty and very
confused".
Another told of a powerplay behaviour known as "shovelling" where iron
ore would be dumped on the cab of trucks operated by women if they
didn't comply with sexual requests, according to the report.
Individuals who spoke to the committee said perpetrators of serious
harassment simply changed work sites or were employed with a different
company, the report said.
Its 24 recommendations included having the industry consider an offender
register or other options "which could operate effectively and fairly to
prevent habitual sexual harassment offenders continuing to be
re-employed."
It also recommended establishing a forum to document
victims' historical experiences, and explore opportunities for redress,
such as formal apologies and compensation. And it recommended changing
laws to put the onus on companies to keep a harassment-free workplace,
rather than on individuals to speak up.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jun/23/images/ads/current/stuffedaria_sda_HEROS_2022.png)
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![](../images/062322PIX/news_k21.jpg)
Iron ore mining operations, including a rail network, can be seen in
outback Western Australia near the city of Port Hedland in this
aerial picture September 5, 2016. Picture taken September 5, 2016.
REUTERS/David Gray
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jun/23/images/ads/current/debbiesfloral_lda_053122_2022.png)
Other proposals related to improved reporting of harassment, better
training for workers and managers, improved accommodation and
security at mine camps as well as restrictions on drinking.
CULTURE OF ABUSE
Major global miners including BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue made
submissions to the inquiry, most of them acknowledging that sexual
harassment is rife at mining camps in Western Australia, and
promising reforms.
But bullying and abuse have continued in the sector over the past 18
months.
Rio said in a statement that it would closely study the
recommendations contained in the report. BHP acknowledged the report
and said it was committed to creating a workplace that is safe,
respectful and inclusive at all times.
Fortescue Metals Group Chief Executive Elizabeth Gaines said: "We
acknowledge that some inappropriate behaviour still occurs and in
line with our zero-tolerance approach to harassment, bullying,
discrimination and intimidation, we will continue to encourage our
team members to call out inappropriate behaviour..."
Rio published its own report in February which found that nearly 30%
of women had experienced sexual harassment at work, with 21 women
reporting actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.
Western Australia's mining sector employs about 150,000 people and
generated A$208 billion ($143 billion) in export revenue in 2020/21.
"The recommendations are good, they had a good handle on what was
happening, and they didn't let the mining industry escape
responsibility," said Kerin Collins, a former worker at a "fly in,
fly out" camp for BHP who testified at the inquiry.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/02/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png)
But Collins warned that an industry register of perpetrators could
be open to abuse and could detract from putting responsibility on
the companies.
"That would be really devastating if a person was put on that
incorrectly," Collins said by phone. "It's the regulation, and
failing to regulate, the industry that needs to be looked at."
($1 = 1.4552 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Praveen Menon and Byron Kaye, with additional
reporting by James Redmayne; Editing by Richard Pullin and Raju
Gopalakrishnan)
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