Rio Tinto will donate 6,000 litres of hand cleaning products sourced from a local family-owned Western Australian manufacturer to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in remote communities in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.
The products will be distributed by Perth-based freight and logistics provider Matic Transport to communities in the Pilbara, (Roebourne, Tom Price, Pannawonica, Paraburdoo), and the Kimberley, as well as to communities in Queensland (Weipa) and Northern Territory (Nhulunbuy and West Arnhem).
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said, “The health and safety of our people and communities continues to be our number one priority.
“We are supporting a wide range of initiatives like this which are designed to help these communities respond and recover from the challenges presented by COVID-19.
“Together with Matic, we are glad to be helping vulnerable and remote communities in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, to stay safe.”
Matic Group director Danny Matic said the company is proud to be part of the Rio Tinto’s initiative to make available anti-bacterial and anti-viral hand cleaning products to remote Indigenous communities, remote hospitals and emergency services.
“Our pledge to communities through our partnership with Rio Tinto Iron Ore is to engage with Indigenous communities in a manner that is inclusive, respects rights, culture and everyone’s way of life,” Mr Matic concluded.
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Peter Jeffries, who received 1,000 litres of donated sanitizer in Roebourne on behalf of the local community, said, “We approached our industry partners for support given Aboriginal communities were identified as vulnerable people, particularly our elderly and our members who suffer from chronic health issues.
“It will be very important for our members to receive this donation of anti-bacterial hand-cleaning soap to help contain the spread of the virus in the community.
“I’d like to thank Rio Tinto for the donation.”
