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DOC takes lessons from mining

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  During a visit to Rio Tinto's Western Australia operations in June are, from left: DOC's deputy director general of operations Mike Slater, DOC director-general Lou Sanson, Rio Tinto's Dampier Ports operations general manager Jessica Farrell, DOC's director of health and safety Harry Maher, and Rio Tinto's Dampier Ports operations environmental manager Marty Buck. Photo: DOC During a visit to Rio Tinto's Western Australia operations in June are, from left: DOC's deputy director general of operations Mike Slater, DOC director-general Lou Sanson, Rio Tinto's Dampier Ports operations general manager Jessica Farrell, DOC's director of health and safety Harry Maher, and Rio Tinto's Dampier Ports operations environmental manager Marty Buck. Photo: DOC

The Department of Conservation is taking safety tips from one of the world’s biggest mining companies, while spending millions on Australian consultants with strong links to the industry. David Williams reports for Newsroom

Greenpeace says it’s “odd” the Department of Conservation is taking lessons from the mining industry.

Taxpayers spent $3900 sending DOC director-general Lou Sanson and two other DOC bigwigs, Mike Slater and Harry Maher, to Western Australia in June to visit global mining giant Rio Tinto’s head office and operations base. The trio also visited the Western Australia Government’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

And Newsroom can reveal the department has spent $3.73 million over four years on Australian consultants Taribon, which has strong links to the mining industry, to restructure the department and train staff. . . . .  >