A warning this next story contains graphic details. Thousands of female workers at two of Australia’s largest mining companies are expected to join in a class action lawsuit alleging systemic sexual harassment and discrimination. The suit contains shocking details of alleged abuse against women employed at remote mine sites operated by Rio Tinto and bhp.
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00:00Women on mine sites being urinated on by male colleagues, being groped, verbally abused,
00:08pressured for sex, or being told rape is not rape if you're passed out.
00:13They are just some of the horrific allegations of sexual assault that have come to light
00:18through class actions against Rio Tinto and BHP.
00:22These women have been exposed to masturbation videos, they have been exposed to penises
00:27being flopped out in front of them, they have been exposed to men who drop their pants and
00:33defecate in front of them and then laugh about it, and there are women that have had spy
00:39cameras put into their rooms by certain men to watch them undress or shower.
00:46This is what allegedly happened to Angela Green, who worked for BHP as an explosives
00:51expert at a Queensland mine site.
00:54When she made the complaint, they locked the door behind her and they interrogated
00:58her about her sex life.
01:00She was later terminated after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
01:05Angela is one of the few women who are willing to stand up individually to these companies
01:10and put their name out there.
01:12The name of the lead applicants in the lawsuit, however, are suppressed due to safety concerns.
01:17One a former security guard at Rio Tinto, the other was a machinery operator at BHP.
01:23They were both sacked.
01:25They have endured sexual harassment every day whilst working at these companies.
01:29Now both companies have undergone widespread workplace cultural reviews, but still, assaults continue.
01:36Just last month, Rio Tinto's progress report revealed eight people reported actual or attempted
01:42sexual assault or rape in the past year, compared to five in 2021.
01:4832 were pressured for sex.
01:51We know that they're talking about a change because we're seeing backlash.
01:55While BHP revealed there were 417 reports of sexual harassment in the last financial year.
02:01All of those reports are deeply concerning.
02:04They are degrading and humiliating.
02:07Both companies have apologised and say there is no place for sexual harassment in the workplace.