Sarah-Jane Tasker: Where was Mines Minister Bill Johnston when landmark mining sex inquiry report handed down?

Imagine being the minister for the industry forced to admit it allowed a toxic culture to fester on mine sites, leading to the horrific treatment of women, and you don’t show up to hear a landmark report on the issue being handed down. That was the decision Mines Minister Bill Johnston made. Instead of being present in the chamber on Thursday when Liberal deputy leader Libby Mettam tabled the report into the appalling treatment of women in WA’s mining industry, he chose to sit in his office. Former FIFO worker Becky Felstead summed it up best when she said: “People send a message in their silence and in their absence.” Mr Johnston did speak on the report after it was released, and said the Government would stand with and support victims in any way possible. And ahead of its release he also announced he had appointed PwC workplace culture expert Elizabeth Shaw to independently review how the embattled Department of Mines responded to incidents of sexual misconduct. All that is welcome, but actions speak louder than words. For the victims of sexual assault and harassment it would have been a strong signal of support if he was there in person when the report was tabled. Mr Johnston now needs to take the lead on pushing for the implementation of the recommendations. He also needs to keep the pressure on the industry to continue cleaning up its act. It would be a complete disservice to women in mining if when the outcomes of the much-needed changes are reviewed, failings are still identified. It won’t just be the industry who will have to answer for that, it’ll be the minister in charge.