[1] The gorge is known primarily for a cave that was the only inland site in Australia with evidence of continuous human occupation for over 46,000 years, including through the last Ice Age.
[2] Prior to its destruction, the cave in Juukan Gorge was an ancient site that had been excavated several times with the help of the traditional owners of the land, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (Binigura) peoples.
[3] The archaeological significance of the Juukan Gorge was known at least since 2009, when it was described as "two rock shelters with Aboriginal occupation starting at least 32,000 years ago and extending throughout the Last Glacial period".
DNA testing revealed that the hair had belonged to the direct ancestors of Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people alive today.
After this aroused widespread international media coverage and public outcry,[10] Rio Tinto apologised to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and the Pinikura peoples for the destruction of the caves and for causing distress.
[12] A Rio Tinto board internal review under Michael L'Estrange, an independent non-executive director of Rio Tinto and former Australian high commissioner to the UK,[13] ascribed the mistake to a series of flaws in their systems, sharing of information, engaging with the Indigenous people and decision-making, and promised to implement new measures, including,[This quote needs a citation] the need for a greater prioritisation of partnerships and relationships with Traditional Owners and First Nations people from senior operational leaders and teams [...].On 11 September 2020, it was announced that, as a result of the destruction at Juukan Gorge, CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques and two other Rio Tinto executives would step down.
[14] The National Native Title Council (NNTC) welcomed the move, but said that there should be an independent review into the company's procedures and culture to ensure that such an incident could never happen again.
[15] Rio Tinto admitted their error, issued an apology via media[16] and on their website, and also committed to building relationships with the traditional owners as well as getting Indigenous people into leadership roles in the company.
[8][21] The chair, Liberal MP Warren Entsch, requested permission from Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan for a small group of politicians and staff to travel to the region in order to have face-to-face hearings with traditional owners early in September.
[24] Submission 152 showed that Rio Tinto had received ministerial consent to damage the site in 2013 under Section 18 in the pursuit of expanding their iron ore mining operations.
While the inquiry and report was bipartisan, there was one dissenting voice with regard to the moratorium; Western Australian Liberal senator Dean Smith was concerned that essential work on infrastructure would be unnecessarily delayed.