The comments were made under questioning by a federal parliamentary inquiry launched in the wake of the Rio Tinto blast,which is examining the mining sector's approach to cultural heritage. Rio Tinto's decision to destroy the ancient rock shelters without traditional owners'consent last week resulted in the resignation of chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques and two of his deputies,and has put the entire industry on notice.
Over recent months,BHP has told traditional owners it would not act on its existing approvals – known as Section 18 approvals – under the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act to affect sites until it had re-engaged with traditional owner representatives.
"We recognise that what has been lost at Juukan Gorge is not only a site of unique and living cultural heritage but also a loss of trust,"BHP Australian mining operations president Edgar Basto told the hearing on Thursday.
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"This is a tragic event ... but we all need to learn from it."
Under WA's controversial Section 18 approvals process,traditional owners do not have the right to appeal against decisions made by the minister.
Libby Ferrari,BHP's head of Indigenous engagement,said the Banjima people had expressed concerns about impact to some heritage sites in South Flank during field work conducted before BHP applied for Section 18 approval to destroy them. She said BHP supported the Banjima people in raising their concerns with the state regulator.