The destruction of Indigenous heritage sites in the western Pilbara brought the relationship between mining giants and traditional landowners into sharp focus and sparked a Senate inquiry.

Following a public outcry over Rio Tinto detonating explosives near sites dating back more than 46,000 years, BHP announced that it would not disturb its sites without further consultation with the Banjima people, the traditional landowners at its South Flank mine.

Liberal National Party senator Matt Canavan immediately took to Twitter, arguing the Banjima people wanted the mine to proceed in order to create jobs in the area. "This is the problem with a witch hunt," he tweeted. "It always ends in an over-reaction. Mining employs Indigenous people at a greater rate than any other industry. You don't help Indigenous people by stopping mining."

RMIT ABC Fact Check investigated this claim.

While the mining industry, as a proportion of its workforce, employs Indigenous people at the highest rate, it's important to note that many more Indigenous Australians work in other sectors of the economy. According to census data, Indigenous Australians account for 3.8 per cent of the mining workforce, well above the average of 1.7 per cent for all industries.

However, while mining employs 6,652 Indigenous Australians, nearly four times that number work in healthcare and social assistance (26,178).

Verdict: Senator Canavan is correct, but his claim does not paint a complete picture of Indigenous employment.