Fortescue Metals Group, one of Australia's largest iron ore miners, has been ordered to pay approximately $150 million to the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal community for mining on their land without a legally binding agreement and for destroying cultural heritage sites. The ruling, delivered on May 12, 2026, by the Federal Court of Australia, follows a long-running legal battle.
The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation, representing the traditional owners, had sued Fortescue for trespass and breach of the Native Title Act. The court found that Fortescue conducted mining operations on Yindjibarndi land in the Pilbara region of Western Australia without obtaining the required consent or compensation agreement. The company also damaged sacred sites, including rock shelters and ceremonial grounds.
Fortescue has stated it will review the judgment and consider an appeal. The company had previously argued that it had engaged in good-faith negotiations, but the court ruled that no valid agreement was in place. The Yindjibarndi community welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for Indigenous rights and cultural preservation.
This case is one of the largest compensation awards in Australian history for native title violations. It highlights ongoing tensions between resource extraction and Indigenous land rights in the region.
