Police are investigating an alleged assault at a Pilbara mine site, days before a WA parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the resources industry is due to be tabled.
A spokesperson for Hancock Prospecting's Roy Hill mine site said the alleged incident involved two contractors, and the accused perpetrator had been removed from the site and was now assisting police with the investigation.
The Roy Hill iron ore project is located 115 kilometres north of Newman in WA's north-west.
In a statement, the spokesperson said Roy Hill had implemented a range of measures to strengthen safety on the site, including adding more security guards.
"We work hard to provide a respectful and inclusive workplace where every person feels safe and where they are encouraged and supported to speak up," they said.
"Any actions contrary to this will not be tolerated."
FIFO inquiry report due in days
After media reports exposed the extent of the issue and mining bosses held a media conference to apologise to sexual assault victims, a formal inquiry into the fly-in, fly-out industry began in July 2021.
The WA Parliament spent months hearing from survivors of sexual harassment and assault, as well the heads of some of the country's largest mining operators like BHP, Rio Tinto, and Woodside.
Over the course of the inquest, it was revealed WA Police had investigated 23 sexual harassment claims at mine sites in two years, 21 of which were allegedly committed against women.
Various mining giants have since pledged to rewrite and review their processes and safety policies.
The inquiry has been chaired by the opposition's Libby Mettam, who said she was looking forward to the report being made public on Thursday.
"It's the product of 11 months of work of our committee," she said.
"I hope that it receives the attention and the urgency that it deserves from industry and government."
She said news of the alleged assault at Roy Hill was "deeply distressing".
"I hope the woman involved has all the support that she needs."
The final report from the parliamentary inquiry will be presented to the state parliament on Thursday.
