BHP CEO steps down as miner pivots to copper

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will invest $100m to support the delivery of more than 500 homes for regional frontline workers, as part of the WA Government’s Seven Cities Vision for regional WA.The Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) expansion will be delivered across five years.The program will be partially funded through a partnership with major resources companies through the Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII), with $100m from Rio Tinto, $50m from BHP and $20m from Hancock.Rio Tinto’s contribution will support new homes in Karratha, Wickham, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Roebourne, while the broader state-wide program also includes 26 homes for regional frontline workers in Albany.Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz comments on the initiative.“Rio Tinto has a long and deep connection to regional WA, directly supporting six towns across the Pilbara and, through our fly-in fly-out program, providing employment and economic activity to a further six communities from the Kimberley to the Great Southern,” he said.“Being a good partner to those communities means investing in the things that make them work; the teachers, police and frontline workers who keep them safe and thriving. And for those people to be there, the right housing needs to be in place.“This $100m investment does exactly that, delivering more homes in Karratha, Wickham, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Roebourne and supporting the many people who live and work in these communities.”WA Premier Roger Cook says Regional cities like Karratha and Port Hedland have been central to WA becoming the strongest economy in the nation.“While traditional industries like mining will continue to thrive, Karratha and Port Hedland will be front-and-centre to my government’s vision and becoming a renewable energy powerhouse and making more things here,” he said.“To seize the big job-creating projects in front of us in Karratha and Port Hedland, we need to continue to invest in economic infrastructure and expand their roles as hubs providing quality services to the towns and remote communities within the Pilbara.“I commend and thank Rio Tinto, BHP and Hancock Prospecting for partnering with my government on this GROH housing build, to support the delivery of better services in the communities in which they operate.”

Lifeline WA and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) have entered a new four year partnership to support the hundreds of Western Australian volunteers who answer calls from people in crisis.The partnership will direct $1.8m to the agency, with $1.2m dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the 540 Lifeline WA volunteer crisis supporters.This marks the first time a corporate partner has directly funded Lifeline WA's crisis supporter wellbeing program, which employs four dedicated part-time wellbeing officers to provide one-on-one debriefs, weekly check-ins and access to mental health resources for crisis supporters.The program also provides wellbeing activities, podcasts and training materials tailored to the unique pressures of crisis line volunteering.The partnership will also support Lifeline WA to deliver mental health outreach and training in regional communities, schools and frontline services across the state, helping build practical skills that stay long after each visit.Lifeline WA chief executive Lorna MacGregor says training a crisis supporter is a significant investment of time and resources.“But more than that, these are people who carry a profound emotional load for the good of our community,” she said.“Rio Tinto has been with us through the training of our volunteers, and now they're with us in caring for them. That continuity of support is something we don't take for granted."Rio Tinto's support recognises that the mental health of those on the frontline of crisis care matters too. This funding gives us the capacity to better retain and care for the extraordinary volunteers who answer the call."Lifeline WA and Rio Tinto have partnered since 2024, with the company previously investing $860,000 over two years to fund the training of crisis supporters including 60 new volunteers trained in the last 12 months.Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz says crisis supporters offer compassion, stability and hope to people experiencing distress when they need it most.“They support thousands of Western Australians every year, but they also need support themselves,” he said.“That’s why our newest partnership with Lifeline WA is about helping sustain the people who sustain others.“Access to mental health support can be harder to come by in regional WA and for FIFO workers. This partnership is one of the ways we are making a difference.”The new partnership is a deliberate evolution from building a workforce to sustaining it.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and the Clontarf Foundation have extended their long-standing partnership for a further five years, continuing a collaboration aimed at improving education, wellbeing and employment outcomes for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.  The partnership, which began in 2008, has supported Clontarf’s expansion from 17 academies and 1362 participants to a national network of 161 academies engaging more than 12,000 young men each day. Clontarf’s academy model focuses on supporting young men to remain engaged in education while building confidence, leadership and cultural identity, alongside promoting healthy lifestyles and strong community connections.  The partnership has also contributed to the development of employment pathways, including worksite visits, mentoring, work experience, cadetships and direct employment opportunities, aimed at supporting transitions from school into further study or the workplace. Rio Tinto said an independent 2025 evaluation by Social Ventures Australia reported school retention of 88% and Year 12 completion of 82% among participants, alongside gains in capability and wellbeing. Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive and Australia country head Matthew Holcz said the partnership reflects the impact of sustained support for young people across education and employment pathways. “For young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, having people walk alongside them as they build skills, confidence and resilience makes a real difference, at school, in work and in their communities” he said. The renewed agreement will continue to support Clontarf’s national network and its focus on education engagement, personal development, and employment readiness. 

Rio Tinto signs agreement with Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation have signed an Interim Modernised Agreement, establishing a pathway to a fuller agreement that will govern how the miner operates on Yinhawangka Country in the long term. The agreement introduces a co-management approach allowing Yinhawangka to be involved earlier in mine planning.  It will establishment a joint committee where both parties work together to make decisions regarding the protection and management of cultural heritage and Country as well as new projects and major operational changes.  The interim agreement builds on the 2013 Participation Agreement between the Yinhawangka People and Rio Tinto. Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation board chairwoman Robyn Hayden (née Tommy) comments on the agreement.  "Mining on our Country always comes with hard decisions, and we have always been clear that Yinhawangka People must be at the centre of those decisions,” she said.  “This agreement with Rio Tinto reflects both parties’ commitment to working in partnership, strengthening respectful communication, and ensuring Yinhawangka voices are heard.  “It creates opportunities for both our current and future generations, supporting a stronger and more sustainable future for both our People and our Country.” Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz says the agreement will allow the company to keep learning from Yinhawangka knowledge and perspectives as it works towards a fully modernised agreement, based on respect, transparency and shared responsibility. “We thank the Yinhawangka People for their continued leadership and guidance, as we work together to strengthen our partnership,” he said. Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto will continue working together to finalise the agreement in 2026.