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Western Australian Senator Dean Smith is calling for Rio Tinto to face a judicial inquiry over the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters. In May 2020, the mining giant blasted two 46,000-year-old rock shelters in WA's Pilbara region, despite traditional owners, warning of the site's cultural significance. A parliamentary into the blast has just concluded saying Rio Tinto's actions were "inexcusable and an affront, not only to the PKKP but to all Australians" and recommends new laws to protect thousands of sacred sites across Australia. Dean Smith was part of that parliamentary inquiry, but says the incident warrants the scrutiny of a judicial inquiry. The Cairns District Court has cleared Queensland pastoralist Scott Harris of breaching cultural heritage protection laws, on his property in the Cape York Peninsula.