![]() The PKKP's group's cultural and heritage manager, Heather Bluith, said many artefacts were held by Rio Tinto in shipping containers at the Brockman mine site, with others on display in the administration building.Įxcavation at Juukan caves uncovered artifacts dated to 46,000 years old. Fears for artifacts taken from cavesĬoncerns were also raised about the safety of significant ancient artefacts collected during archaeological surveys at the site. "We are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation," he said. In a statement a Rio Tinto spokesman said the company "reiterate" that what happened at Juukan Gorge was "wrong." "We were having all these high-level meetings at the same time they were having these discussions, they were still loading up the blast holes," she said. The hearing also heard evidence from the PKKP people's cultural and heritage manger, Heather Bluith, that even after the they had protested about the imminent destruction of the caves, Rio kept loading explosives. Rio Tinto accused of packing explosives despite concerns Later, PKKP Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Carol Meredith added the organisation did not want the examination of the blast to turn "into a media circus". ![]() Several PKKP members responded by saying "no". In the context of discussion about the gag clause, Northern Territory MP Warren Snowden asked if the PKKP people would be able to speak to a media organisation if one approached it after the hearing. The PKKP people have made little media comment since the blast. ![]() PKKP chief executive Carol Meredith (left) says the group came under pressure from Rio Tinto. She replied that they would have lost out financially. Northern Territory MP Warren Snowden asked Ms Meredith what the PKKP people would have lost if they breached the agreement. "So for us in the time span available, it was not in fact an option." Financial payments left at risk, PKKP says we were required to seek permission from Rio before we took that option, and we had to give 30 days' notice and table every document we were going to use in that application. "If we were to proceed to seeking an emergency declaration. "We were hamstrung and we were reminded that we were not to speak about this publicly, that we had the gag clauses and we needed to remain compliant. ![]() "What we were reminded of by Rio's lawyers was that we were not able to engage seeking out an emergency declaration that perhaps would have stopped proceedings, because of our claim-wide participation agreement," she said. Speaking via teleconference, Ms Meredith said Rio was applying pressure to the group as they tried to stop the works. The caves were destroyed in May on the traditional Pilbara lands of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people, as part of Rio's bid to access $135 million worth of iron ore. They were also told they could not apply for a federal emergency halt to works without first asking Rio Tinto 's permission and giving 30 days' notice, according to Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Carol Meredith. ![]()
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