HRLC Panguna OECD

Corporations shouldn’t be allowed to wreak environmental devastation on communities - polluting their water and food supplies. But in 2016, Rio Tinto did just that, when it walked away from its Panguna mine in Bougainville leaving behind a billion tonnes of mine waste.

Four years on, the communities in the shadow of the decaying mine are forced to live with rivers poisoned by copper, regular water shortages, and serious health problems arising from the pollution.

We believe that corporations shouldn’t be allowed to threaten the livelihoods of people in the name of profit. So together with communities in Panguna, the Human Rights Law Centre is pursuing justice. Today, we filed a human rights complaint with the Australian Government demanding that Rio Tinto take action to address the deadly legacy it left behind in Bougainville.

We want to make sure that Rio Tinto hears that message loud and clear - when you make a mess, you clean it up.