Mining sector sexual misconduct: Police investigate claims woman was sexually assaulted on Pilbara mine site

Police have launched a probe into “shocking” claims a woman was sexually assaulted while working as a contractor at a Pilbara mine site at the weekend. The alarming alleged assault at Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill mine, about 115km north of Newman, has come to light just days before the report from an inquiry into sexual misconduct in the fly-in, fly-out mining industry — prompted by The West Australian’s ground-breaking reporting on the issue — is due to be tabled in State Parliament. A Roy Hill spokeswoman on Sunday confirmed the company had “received a report from a contractor of an alleged assault involving two contractors at one of our sites overnight”. “The reporting individual was provided with immediate support by their contracting company and Roy Hill, and the incident was referred to the police,” the spokeswoman said. “In conjunction with the contractor’s employer, the alleged perpetrator has been removed from site and is assisting the police with the investigation. “Roy Hill is providing full cooperation to the police and the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in their investigations, and requests privacy for the individual concerned.” Newman police confirmed the investigation into the matter was ongoing. Mines Minister Bill Johnston said Roy Hill chief executive Gerhard Veldsman had called him on Sunday morning “to tell me about this shocking incident that occurred last night (Saturday)“. Mr Johnston said the McGowan Government “stands with the victim and we will support them in any way we can”. “WA Police are currently investigating and WorkSafe will identify if there has been any breach of the Work Health and Safety Act by the company,” he said. The powerful parliamentary inquiry into the shocking spate of sexual harassment and assaults at WA mine sites was triggered after The West exposed allegations a woman had been raped at a BHP mine in the Pilbara. The report was followed by a spate of other rape allegations and sexual harassment claims made by female fly-in, fly-out workers at sites run by Australia’s biggest miners including BHP, Rio Tinto and FMG. By the end of the hearings, the committee had heard almost 260 complaints from mainly women over the past five years — with separate evidence suggesting the true figure may be much higher because of under-reporting. The inquiry report is due to be tabled on Thursday. On Sunday, Roy Hill said protecting its employees’ physical and psychological safety was the company’s “utmost priority”. “Over the last eighteen months we have implemented measures to strengthen safety on site including an increased security presence with officers available to accompany people around site should they request,” the spokeswoman said. “We have also taken steps to ensure all people feel comfortable using our facilities, for example by opening a female-only gym. “We work hard to provide a respectful and inclusive workplace where every person feels safe and where they are encouraged and supported to speak up. Any actions contrary to this will not be tolerated.” The company said it would not comment further while investigations were ongoing nor would it release the names of the contractors involved. 1800 RESPECT