Australian mining companies lack transparency in African projects
Oh, Africa!
New Matilda 17 Sept 09 Australian mining companies are being lured to Africa with a campaign that would make Tourism Australia proud, writes Tim O’Connor
“…………At first glance it may seem innocuous enough, but the message is pretty clear: Australia, a significant mining pit itself, is now looking to exploit Africa. In a big way……………what Australian companies need to realise if they are going to heed the call to mine Africa’s riches, is that most of the conflicts currently plaguing that continent are being fought over access to resources………..In the struggle for resource rents, other state functions typically diminish and the supply of things like education and health declines…………..
We need our companies, particularly our mining companies, to be accountable and transparent and not promoting the cycle of corruption that has lead to so much decay…………….. This month’s Africa Downunder! conference in Perth was worrying for what it did not address. When our Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, presented to the conference he made no mention of the transparency initiative or even the need for our mining companies to be socially responsible in their dealings with the war-torn continent.
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