Critical reflections on the Juukan Gorge parliamentary inquiry and prospects for industry change

Abstract

In May 2020, when Rio Tinto destroyed ancient rockshelters in Western Australia to expand an iron ore mine, public outcry triggered a parliamentary inquiry. The value and effect of public sector inquiries have been debated for over a century. While the Juukan Gorge inquiry overlooked some important issues, it succeeded in illuminating critical flaws in company, regulatory and administrative systems that trade on injustice. These issues have not been altogether neglected by past state and federal governments, but previous inquiries failed to drive meaningful reform. We conclude that while systemic change seems improbable, the evolving political milieu in Australia may offer prospects for industry change.