ADVERTORIAL
Calling for change and closing the gap At HESTA, we’re a gutsy advocate for a fair
Calling for change
and healthy community to deliver better
As long-term investors, we believe that strong and
financial outcomes to our members. Through our commitment to reconciliation with First Nations peoples, HESTA is playing an active role in supporting real and lasting change in our organisation, the superannuation industry and the health and community services sector. In May 2020, one of our investee companies — Rio Tinto — destroyed 46,000-year-old culturally significant caves at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and with that, the trust with First Nations peoples around Australia. The destruction of the sites represented a failure to respect the rights of First Nations peoples and to protect cultural heritage of immense significance to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people and all Australians. HESTA took immediate action following the destruction of the caves, calling for Rio Tinto’s
respectful stakeholder relationships are essential to realising long-term company value. ‘What was particularly shocking about the Juukan Gorge incident was that not only were Rio Tinto considered leaders [in their respect toward First Nations peoples and culture], but that the destruction of the caves was technically legal,’ says HESTA’s Senior Responsible Investment Advisor, Claire Heeps. ‘This suggested to us the risks posed to investors were not specific to Rio Tinto but systemic in nature, and the potential risk to our members’ retirement outcomes is widespread and significant.’ Claire says that in order to properly address these risks, we need change, not only at Rio Tinto, but throughout the mining sector and at a legislative and regulatory level.
Board to address issues surrounding the company’s
Closing the gap
treatment and engagement with traditional
The tragic events at Juukan Gorge showed
owners. More broadly, this tragedy propelled us
significant gaps between public commitments and
to increase our engagement with the broader
operational reality.
mining and metals sector and expand our policy advocacy activities.
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The Health Advocate • FEBRUARY 2022
‘We are advocating to improve important legal protections in the area of cultural heritage to
