The loss of a partnership with the AFL would show that mining giant Rio Tinto had lost the company's "social licence" in Australia, according to leading Indigenous academic and activist Professor Marcia Langton.
Langton, who has made two submissions to the senate inquiry into the Rio Tinto incident and has had extensive experience in the mining industry's relationship with Indigenous people, said to operate a "social licence" meant having "the standing and approval of the Australian people and the Australian government in how they operate".
Rio Tinto's partnership with the AFL consists of three pathway programs for Indigenous kids or young adults – the Flying Boomerangs , the Woomeras and the Footy Means Business program.
Marcia has nailed it. OK corporate Australia, step up, these programs cannot be lost to Indigenous Australian youth. $1.5 m is a very small slice of ‘leadership’ salaries &/or bonuses. Crowd funding if all else fails. I feel sure some big firm will step up to partner the AFL.
I think it goes even further relating to the fact Rio didn’t need to consult with Traditional Owners based on the need for Rio to stop destroying Significant Cultural Sites Period
Very good read! and true!