Indigenous

The state's coronavirus travel restrictions are set to block an on-country hearing by a committee examining Rio Tinto's destruction of ancient sites.

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt is in talks to buy the rights to the Aboriginal flag.

The state government will have the power to stop miners from disturbing significant sites under long-awaited Aboriginal cultural heritage reforms, which will also demand informed consent for traditional owners.

Rio Tinto's chief executive wants to hold talks with traditional owners in the Pilbara after the mining giant's destruction of ancient cultural sites in Western Australia.

Rio Tinto will cut the bonuses of three senior executives but none will lose their job after a board review of the company's destruction of two heritage sites.

The traditional owners at the centre of the Juukan Gorge controversy said Rio Tinto’s response to a parliamentary inquiry had only deepened their anguish.

Rio Tinto conceded today it failed on multiple occasions to review the planned destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves in light of material new information on their significance.

Indigenous leaders and governments are close to reaching a deal on new targets to improve the health, education and job prospects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Indigenous contractors such as Warrikal, Carey Mining, and Brida illustrate the increasing maturity of the sector.

Mining agreements in the Pilbara have delivered large financial returns to selected Aboriginal groups.

Mining companies and Aboriginal groups face a very different future after the Juukan Gorge controversy and planned legislative changes.

An Aboriginal group that gets most of its funding from BHP Nickel West has launched a Federal Court claim it says will guide compensation negotiations with native title holders across the country.

The Committee for Perth has renewed its push for a world-class centre for indigenous culture as part of a two-year action plan to boost the city’s international reputation. Another key recommendation was to establish Perth as a renewable energy leader.

BHP said today it would not disturb 40 Aboriginal heritage sites in the Pilbara until it has consulted with the native title holders, just weeks after gaining government approval to clear the sites.

Aboriginal-owned business Mallard Deemy has secured $11 million in contracts with Fortescue Metals Group for work at the Eliwana iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

Rio Tinto has committed to review its indigenous heritage approach and its plans in the Juukan area, near the Brockman mine, after the destruction of an ancient rock cave provoked national outrage; while community representatives have described their efforts leading up to the blast.

Department of Finance director general Jodi Cant has been recognised for her work in government, winning the Telstra Business Woman of the Year award for WA.

ICT company Data#3, ENGIE Services and five WA companies providing Aboriginal heritage and archaeological support services have been awarded contracts by the Public Transport Authority of WA.

Curtin University has awarded a fire services maintenance contract to ARA Indigenous Services, a business established by former AFL player Michael O’Loughlin.

Former AFL footballer and Wirrpanda Foundation executive Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls is off to a flying start in the business sector, after establishing Oaks Civil Construction and buying a traffic management business in Geraldton.

A new services hub backed by the Wirrpanda Foundation and $10 million of government funding aims to fill market gaps for indigenous businesses.

A joint venture between diversified engineering consultancy Calibre Group and indigenous company Tocomwall has been contracted by the state government to develop a monitoring program for the Aboriginal rock art on Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula).

The Yamatji Indigenous community has celebrated a landmark economic package and native title recognition for more than 100,000 hectares of land in Western Australia’s Mid West.

Western Australia’s unique indigenous rock art in the Pilbara is set for a UNESCO World Heritage listing, with the state and federal governments formally submitting an application for the recognition and protection today.

WA’s newest cultural drawcard is set to showcase the state’s unique heritage on a world stage.

Gerard Matera is helping turn positive sentiment around Aboriginal reconciliation in the business community into genuine change through indigenous-owned building company Marawar.

The state government awarded 4.77 per cent of its contracts to Aboriginal businesses in the 2018-19 financial year, substantially exceeding its own target, although the contribution of government agencies was highly variable.

Indigenous skincare business Jummi Factory has gained financial backing from Minderoo Foundation after receiving top prize at the inaugural Dream Summit in Sydney last week.

Small indigenous business Gebro Contracting, which has worked with Main Roads and Georgiou Group, has entered administration.

Main Roads Western Australia chief executive Peter Woronzow is embracing the unique opportunity for community development that comes with managing one of the world’s biggest road networks.

A 50-50 joint venture between Cape and Aboriginal business Kurtarra has announced it secured an optical fibre contract with Rio Tinto.

Twelve big companies have pledged to lift their indigenous procurement to 3 per cent of their annual spend, seeking to match targets the federal and state governments have already set for their own agencies.