National Resources Review | Resources companies donate to bushfire relief efforts

15 Jan, 2020

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Dart Mining converted a 6 wheeler mine site water truck into a firefighting resource to protect the communities of Tindaldra and Wodonga. Image via. the Minerals Council of Australia.

Several of the largest companies operating or involved in the resources sector in Australia have or have committed to donating to help provide support and relief for Australian’s suffering from the bushfire crisis.

It is estimated that the 2019-20 Australian bushfires have already burned more than 10.3 million hectares of land, destroyed over 5,900 buildings (including over 2,000 homes) and killed at least 27 people.

Chris Dickman, a professor of ecology at the University of Sydney, also estimates that more than one billion animals have been impacted by bushfires nationally.

A number of companies have recently donated money, equipment and announced other measures to support fire-affected communities and wildlife as well as the efforts of the Australian firefighters.

Additionally, please find some links to charities and organisations mentioned (as well as others) at the base of this article.

Anglo American

$600,000 donation divided between NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS), Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland (RFBAQ).

The company will match all employee donations made before 29 February with funds going to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal.

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.

Dart Mining

Has converted a 6 wheeler mine site water truck into a firefighting resource to protect the communities of Tindaldra and Wodonga.

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.

The company is 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.

Evolution Mining

$1.5 million donation to Rural Aid, one of Australia’s largest rural charities, well known for their highly successful ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign’.

Rural Aid provides financial assistance, fodder, water and counselling to farmers in times of drought, flood or fire.

Evolution will donate $750,000 to the Queensland Rural Fire Service and $750,000 to the NSW RFS, which will assist brigades to replenish equipment loss, provide vehicle maintenance and cover volunteer expenses without them having to seek donations or fundraise in communities already recovering from recent fires.

Fortescue Metals Group

$1 million to the Minderoo Foundation Fire Fund to assist communities impacted by the devastating bushfires in regions across Australia.

In addition to this contribution, Fortescue is fundraising for the Australian Red Cross’ Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, with Andrew and Nicola Forrest committing to match every dollar donated with two dollars to the Minderoo Foundation Fire Fund.

Fortescue will also support the Minderoo Foundation’s response to the bushfires through seconding team members with specialist skills and supporting employees who are willing to volunteer with relief and recovery efforts for impacted communities.

Kirkland Lake Gold

$1 million donation between the Victorian Government Bushfire Appeal, Australian Red Cross, CFA and RSPCA Victoria.

Initiating a fire readiness program in the Bendigo area with local CFA units.

Minerals Council of Australia

$20,000 donation to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

Newcrest Mining

$400,000 donation between the NSW RFS and the Victorian CFA and will match up to $200,000 of employee donations.

Orica

$1 million donation between the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and the NSW RFS and will match employee donations to a range of bushfire charities.

Rio Tinto

$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.

South32

Donated $500,000 to the NSW RFS and the RFBAQ in November 2019 to support front-line fire-fighting.

In January 2020, it pledged an additional $500,000 to the Australian Red Cross in support of disaster relief, bringing its total donations to $1 million since November 2019.

South32 has also made in-kind donations of face masks for smoke protection and across Australia many of its staff have been involved in raising funds and volunteering to support bushfire relief efforts.

The company will continue to match employee contributions to a number of supporting organisations including WIRES, Buy A Bale and the Australian Red Cross.

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 between the Australian Red Cross and NSW RFS and will match all employee donations.

To help those on the frontline of the recovery effort, a donation can be made to the following organisations and charities:

FIREFIGHTERS:

NSW Rural Fire Service – https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade

Victoria’s Country Fire Authority – https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa#donate-cfa

Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland – https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-rfbaq

South Australian Country Fire Service – https://cfsfoundation.org.au/donate

CHARITIES AND OTHER BUSHFIRE APPEALS:

Australian Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org.au/

Salvation Army – https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/

St Vincent de Paul Society – https://www.vinnies.org.au/