A bonus of $4 million dollars - who needs it?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382329)
Rockingham, Australia
August 23, 2020 9:40pm CST
Earlier this year, aboriginal rock shelters estimated at over 46,000 years old were detonated by mining giant, Rio Tinto. These shelters were culturally significant to the indigenous people of the area. They also contained artefacts which were a great interest to archeologists. The destruction caused a huge furore in the state of Western Australia.
The blasting gave Rio Tinto access to an extra 8 million tonnes of high-grade iron ore. Now however, although the company was legally entitled to mine the area, its own review has found that the company fell short of the standards it had set for itself, and had failed to properly engage with the local indigenous people.
As a result, the top executives have been stripped of their annual performance bonuses. For the top man, this will result in a loss of some $4 million dollars. I find it quite obscene that a person would be given this as a bonus. I wonder how much he makes a week?
I suppose it’s better than a slap on the wrist, and it seems the company is genuine, but it won’t bring back the shelters.
The photo is not of the area but shows a similar type of landscape.
28 people like this
28 responses
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Aug 20
It may not bring back the shelters, but it also sends a message that this type of behavior is not welcome. I'm glad there was a financial penalty to those responsible for the decisions. The sad part is, I bet in the future those executives will make that money right back in future bonuses.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Aug 20
@JudyEv Yes, it must be some ridiculously stupid salary. I have always believe CEO's have been way overpaid.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382329)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Aug 20
@moffittjc I looked it up. His salary is $11.3 million.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Aug 20
a project as massive and long-term as that involves a lot of government agencies before it gets approved. i would think they studied the area thoroughly first?
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
24 Aug 20
@JudyEv exactly. i've always felt a lot of things are inside jobs, or involves connivance, collusion and the like. no one else knows the loopholes more than those involved themselves.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382329)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Aug 20
@hereandthere I'm sure you're right. They are very clever at arranging things to suit themselves.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382329)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Aug 20
The bad part is that they were given permission. The laws are now changing - although it's too late to save these shelters. However, there were three other options which wouldn't have involved blowing up the area. They conveniently didn't mention these to anyone.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
24 Aug 20
That is a huge bonus amount. But totally sad because it destroyed old caves.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36796)
• Philippines
25 Aug 20
@JudyEv Exactly, they damages this natural wonder. Is Rio Tinto owns by Telstra?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382329)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Aug 20
@jobelbojel No, it's nothing to do with Telstra. It's simply a mining company.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
12 Sep 20
this's totally heartbreakin' :( a $4 million dollar bonus?? mercy, fer the mass destruction 'f lands. then 'gain, the governments allow such - happens here'n the u.s.. more so with the pandemic coz the government offices plead they can't send ya the public documents required fer a law suit to stop 'em. ya know, coz their offices 're closed? i call b.s....
my heart goes out to the aborginal community, a huge loss to their heritage. 's well 's all those native to australia really.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
12 Sep 20
@JudyEv aint't sad how they works?? they've 'lways those contracts which quite oft pays 'em more if'n fired/asked to resign than if'n they'd held their positions 'til such 'xpired. yer correct, someone'll scoop 'em right'p. happens here'n the u.s. all the time - jest aint right :(
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
24 Aug 20
That's a shame that those shelters were destroyed. It's not uncommon for bonuses to be taken away. Half my older son's salary is based on bonuses. As Chief Compliance Officer, among other legal duties, he's had to strip bonuses from managing partners around the world for non-compliance. Some were fired.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
24 Aug 20
that is terrible, good that they found themselves failing their own standards but bad that it happened in the first place.
1 person likes this
@nawala123 (20871)
• Indonesia
24 Aug 20
Rio Tinto has mining project in here too
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
26 Aug 20
Such crookedness in the world Judy. Insane amounts of money paid out to some criminals.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54716)
• United States
25 Aug 20
That’s an incredible amount. I read a quote once that said “Money is like manure and should be spread around.” That amount to one person is hard to imagine.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382329)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Aug 20
Me too. How many people could you help with that sort of money?
@LindaOHio (222624)
• United States
24 Aug 20
It's a shame that a historical area is lost forever. If he makes a bonus of $4 million, he obviously makes enough that the loss won't hurt him. Have a great Monday.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
24 Aug 20
I wonder what people do with the millions of money they get as a bonus.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
24 Aug 20
@JudyEv yes..so true..and I could buy a new house close to the beach here.
1 person likes this
@agusariyanto (422)
• Indonesia
25 Aug 20
That is the power of capital and lobbying, it will get everything.
Good and right, in our opinion, it is not necessarily the same for them.
The bonus will come back because the path has been made.
1 person likes this
