- Media Release
MCA members contribute to Australian bushfire relief
The loss of lives and livelihoods from bushfires across Australia is tragic. Fires have already burnt through several million hectares, destroyed many homes and forced the evacuation of some regional communities.
The continuing impact on people, communities and their land and livelihood is devastating and widespread across Australia.
A number of MCA member companies have donated time, money and services to support regional communities affected by the bushfires:
| Anglo American | $600,000 donation divided between NSW Rural Fire Service, Victorian Country Fire Authority Public Fund and the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland. Will match all employee donations made before 29 February with funds going to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal |
| Ashurst | $200,000 donation and pro bono secondment of staff to bolster charity organisation staff and 20 days paid leave for employee bushfire volunteers |
| BHP Foundation | $2 million donation to the Australian Red Cross, special leave for employee bushfire volunteers, $30,000 to Mallacoota relief, $2 donation for every $1 donated by employees to Red Cross, RFS, SA Fire, WIRES and RSPCA |
| CIMIC and Thiess | Paid leave with no cap for employee bushfire volunteers, paid leave for those impacted by fires, matching employee donations up to $1 million and providing plant, equipment and people in the relief and rebuilding efforts |
| Dart Mining | Converted a 6 wheeler mine site water truck into a firefighting resource to protect the communities of Tindaldra and Wodonga |
| Downer | $500,000 donation to the Business Council of Australia’s Community Rebuilding Initiative; assistance with road maintenance, tree removal, hazard identification and repairs and traffic management in several communities; direct assistance to the South Australia Koala rescue centre by washing hundreds of kilograms of soiled laundry daily |
| Dyno Nobel | As part of parent company Incitec Pivot and in conjunction with Incitec Pivot Fertilisers, providing $400,000 to relief efforts which will include supporting farmers impacted through a Customer Bushfire Recovery Fund, a company donation of $100,000 to the National Bushfire Disaster Appeal and the matching of employee donations to this appeal. Also supporting employees who are volunteering as part of emergency response efforts, including providing access to paid leave |
| Energy Australia | $100,000 donation and suspended accounts for affected businesses and families, 20 days paid leave for employee bushfire volunteers |
| EY | Uncapped leave for employee bushfire volunteers and ADF reservists, $100,000 donation and will match employee donations to a range of bushfire charities |
| Glencore | $1 million donation divided between Blaze Aid, Aussie Ark and NSW Rural Fire Service for bushfire preperation, relief and recovery |
| Herbert Smith Freehills | Matching staff donations and special paid leave for employee volunteers |
| Kirkland Lake Gold | $1 million donation divided between the Victorian Government Bushfire Appeal, Australian Red Cross, Country Fire Authority and RSPCA Victoria. Initiating a fire readiness program in the Bendigo area with local CFA units |
| KPMG | Extended paid leave for employee bushfire volunteers and ADF reservists, financial donation to the Australian Red Cross |
| Minerals Council of Australia | $20,000 donation to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund |
| MinterEllison | 20 days paid leave for employee bushfire volunteers and ADF reservists, will match donations made by employees, providing pro bono legal services to those impacted |
| Mitsubishi Development and Mitsubishi Corporation | $1 million donation from Mitsubishi Development and Mitsubishi Corporation donated to bushfire relief efforts. This includes $300,000 to NSW RFS, $60,000 each to the Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, GIVIT, Lifeline Queensland and St Vincent de Paul from Mitsubishi Development, and $400,000 to the Australian Red Cross from Mitsubishi Corporation |
| Newcrest Mining | $400,000 donation divided between the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Victorian CFA and will match up to $200,000 of employee donations |
| Newmont Australia | $1 million donation to Australian Red Cross for bushfire relief and recovery; double-matching employee donations for bushfire relief. |
| Orica | $1 million donation between the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and the NSW Rural Fire Service and will match employee donations to a range of bushfire charities |
| $1 million donation to the Australian Red Cross; matching employee donations up to $1 million; ensuring any employees involved in firefighting and relief efforts are supported throughout this period with full leave entitlements | |
| St Barbara | $25,000 donation to Salvation Army Bushfire Disaster Appeal and $25,000 to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund; matching employee donations up to $50,000 |
| Whitehaven Coal Limited | $100,000 donation divided between Australian Red Cross and NSW Rural Fire Service and will match all employee donations |
| Yancoal Australia | $500,000 donation to NSW Rural Fire Service; will match any bushfire-related donations during the current fire season; provided five local fire brigades with specific hose cleaners to greatly reduce the time brigade volunteers spend scrubbing fire hoses; other sites have provided bottled water and other necessities; Yancoal-owned residential properties made available to those who have lost homes, and to the fire services as temporary respite accommodation; supporting employees involved in responding to fires in their communities through local organisations including NSW RFS. |
The MCA is proud of the financial and practical support its member companies have already extended in response to the bushfires. The Australian minerals industry is a pillar of the Australian economy and a good neighbour to communities nationwide.
Dart Mining water truck in action protecting the Tindaldra community:
