diggers and dealers – Michmutters

The company at the center of an alleged sexual assault say they have a “zero-tolerance policy” towards such behavior after a 23-year-old journalist was allegedly groped at a Goldfields mining event.

Kalgoorlie Miner deputy editor Amber Lilley alleged she was propositioned, groped, and followed after attending a Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum event last week.

Forum chairman Jim Walker said the organization was disappointed to learn of the alleged incident that occurred at a sideline function during the week.

“While the incident did not occur at a Diggers and Dealers event, the forum has a zero-tolerance policy towards such behaviour,” he said.

Mr Walker said there was an expectation that people who attended the forum, including sideline events, behaved in a “respectful and inclusive manner”.

“Our expectations of delegates’ behavior also extended to unaffiliated events and private functions that take place around the city during this period,” he said.

The alleged incident took place at the Graduates Hall of the West Australian School of Mines, with school alumni hosting a networking event the same week as the conference.

A joint statement by the West Australian School of Mines Alumni and Curtin University said they were “extremely disappointed” by the behavior of one of the attendees.

The statement said the organizations were working to address issues of sexism and misogyny and improve opportunities for women in the mining sector.

“We are absolutely committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning and work environment,” the statement read.

“We strongly believe in the value that education and awareness can play in change, and as part of that, we have recently appointed a director of equity and diversity in the WA School of Mines.”

a close up image of an older man in a suit — Mr Bowler says he is pleased the incident has been brought to light.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Robert Koenig-Luck)

Not an isolated incident

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor John Bowler said the Diggers and Dealers Forum should not be made responsible for the actions of one man but conceded it was unlikely the incident was isolated.

“Sadly, we get idiots who get a few beers under their belt and misbehave, but to say it’s just in Kalgoorlie-Boulder or just at the Diggers and Dealers conference is unfair,” he said.

Mr Bowler said he was pleased the incident had been brought to light and would like to see the man in question banned from future forums.

“This person, I hope, won’t be allowed back to Diggers and Dealers, and anyone who behaves like him should be treated the same,” he said.

“They [Diggers and Dealers] have assured me that will be the case.”

The incident has been condemned by the mining sector and state politicians, including the premier Mark McGowan who said he was “disappointed” and urged the industry to “do the right thing”.

A close of a woman with scrub in the background. — Senator Cox says the allegations highlight a continuing trend of harassment towards women in mining.(Supplied)

Greens resources spokesperson Senator Dorinda Cox said Ms Lilley’s allegations highlighted a continuing trend of harassment towards women in mining.

She said the industry’s action on harassment was lacking despite the June release of a scathing report into sexual assault and harassment within WA’s fly-in, fly-out mining industry.

“The WA mining sector has been called out in the report, and its recommendations are clear,” Senator Cox said.

“The ignorance and lip service is impalpable, and holding those in power to account isn’t even a blip on the radar, which continues to leave me deeply concerned.”

Latest assault an ‘opportunity’ for mining sector

The incident has been seen by advocates for women in mining as a new chance for the industry to step up and show action on stamping out harassment.

Former FIFO worker Becky Felstead works as a consultant to the resource sector on sexual harassment, workplace culture and assault and said the industry had an opportunity to target harassment at its core.

A middle shot of woman with her arms folded — Ms Felstead says there are many things that need to change.(Supplied)

“I think the mining industry has an opportunity. We know that this is systemic, and we know that this is happening as a culture, not just in mining,” she said.

“But mining has an opportunity because they can be front runners, and they can be the innovators in making sure that they are creating active bystanders, that they are changing the culture. They are having these conversations.

“I think there are so many things that need to change.”

The Goldfield’s largest newspaper says reform in the mining industry is needed after a 23-year-old journalist was allegedly groped after this year’s Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum.

Kalgoorlie Miner deputy editor Amber Lilley made the allegations on the front page of Tuesday’s newspaper in the wake of last week’s showcase mining event.

Ms Lilley alleges she was groped and sexually propositioned in a crowded bar after a conference event which left her “shocked and disgusted” and “feeling vulnerable”.

“A man in mining told me he had a ‘rager’ over me,” she said.

“He then proceeded to tell me to ‘call him daddy’ before groping me as I walked away through the crowd, and he followed.”

The Kalgoorlie Miner, owned by the West Australian, which also ran an editorial titled ‘Diggers is done unless it cleans up its act’, has lodged a complaint with the man’s company and West Australian Police.

Not an isolated incident

The incident came after the June release of a scathing report into sexual assault and harassment within WA’s fly-in, fly-out mining industry, which found women had been subjected to “an appalling range of behaviours”.

Ms Lilley said the groping was not the only instance of inappropriate behavior she experienced while covering the event, with comments on her appearance and gender also made by event goers while at a bar.

“Those comments included how great I looked in my outfit, how maybe I could do skimpy bar work, how grateful women should be for their current standing in the industry, and how there aren’t many female industry leaders,” she said.

A balding man in foreground in pink shirt in front of town hall. — John Bowler says the Diggers and Dealers Forum has been unfairly targeted.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance: Nathan Morris)

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Major John Bowler called the article an unjust criticism of the conference.

“Diggers is getting an unwarranted bad rap because of one poor joke by one poor comedian and one sexist comment by one stupid delegate,” he said.

Mr Bowler said he applauded Ms Lilley for calling out the man who made the sexist remarks at a bar but, said the connection to Diggers and Dealers was “ridiculous”.

“The organizers cannot do any more to distance the event from the skimpy barmaid image and they cannot be made responsible for any drunken behavior late at night,” he said.

“What about the other 2,599 delegates and more importantly, what about the women who own and run the forum, who were justifiably proud after last week, but must now feel devastated at what seems like a smear campaign that will only end when Diggers moves out of Kalgoorlie.”

Professionalism needed beyond conference

Speaking on ABC radio, Ms Lilley said her experience did not apply to the conference itself, but was instead a reflection of the behavior she witnessed while covering all aspects of the forum.

“My observations and experience do not apply to the conference itself,” she said.

“Diggers and Dealers in the daytime was an outstanding display of professionalism.

“Outside of the conference and away from the main event, when conference-goers let their guards down, things were often very different.”

A close image of a man in a blue suit. — Rob Carruthers says more needs to be done to stamp out sexual harassment.(ABC Goldfields-Esperance)

West Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Rob Carruthers said more needed to be done to eliminate sexual assault in the industry.

“This type of behavior has no place in any part of society, including extensions of the work environment,” Mr Carruthers said.

He said the chamber and its member companies condemned the behavior in the strongest terms.

“We again reiterate our commitment to ensuring it is not only eliminated from the workplace, but from all work-related environments,” he said.

“As an industry, we must do better, by continuing to educate our people about what is and isn’t appropriate and by clearly calling out behavior when it doesn’t meet the required standards.”

Ms Lilley said industry leaders had the “right attitude” and a “willingness” to stamp out sexual assault in the mining industry, but said “it would never be enough until zero women were sexually harassed.”

The organizers of Diggers and Dealers have been contacted for comment.

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