Developing relationships that focus on economic independence In Australia, the Group has dealt with freehold and leasehold owners of property for many years and issues of access, land disturbance, compensation and community development have been a normal part of business. Rio Tinto's sensitive global practices in dealing with Indigenous communities were not universally applied in Australia in the past. This has changed. Each business unit employs people specifically in the community relations area with an emphasis on Aboriginal relations. Aboriginal people should benefit from resource development.
Local communities are an important source of people.
Local Aboriginal people can be skilled and valued employees. Good two-way communication with appropriate communities is essential so Aboriginal people can make informed decisions for their benefit. Experiences in working with Governments Rio Tinto Business Units have resisted taking up what they see as government responsibility and they have not always enjoyed effective working relationships with the regional offices of some government departments. It appears that there is a perception within government departments that because there is a large mine close to a community, the local Aboriginal community is already significantly advantaged, and basic infrastructure funding for housing, health and education may not be provided at a comparable level with other nearby Aboriginal communities that have no access to a mine site. Rio Tinto business units have been offered the opportunity to work with government in the area of education and employment development to provide for traineeships and take up funds under the Training for Aboriginal Program.