Yindjibarndi Win Record AUD 150M Native Title Payout from Fortescue

The Federal Court of Australia has mandated that Fortescue, a major player in the iron ore industry, compensate the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) with AUD 150 million (USD 107 million) for cultural damages linked to mining activities on Yindjibarndi territory in the Pilbara region. Justice Stephen Burley issued the ruling on Tuesday, determining that the Solomon Hub mine inflicted significant cultural harm without the consent of the traditional owners. The assessment of cultural damages reached AUD 150 million, while economic losses were calculated at AUD 100,000 plus interest. Since 2013, Fortescue has earned around AUD 80 billion from the land, without paying royalties to the Yindjibarndi, who refused to sign an agreement. The court identified 240 heritage sites with artifacts removed, 124 sites completely destroyed, and over 135 square kilometers deemed hazardous. This compensation follows nearly 20 years of legal disputes, beginning with a native title claim in 2003, the recognition of exclusive rights in 2017, and the rejection of Fortescue's appeal in 2019. YNAC had previously sought approximately AUD 1.8 billion in 2022. CEO Michael Woodley expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, suggesting a potential appeal. This compensation is reportedly the largest court-ordered native title payment in Australian history, nearly three times the prior record set against Glencore's McArthur River Mine in April.