- A federal court has ordered mining giant Fortescue to pay a record A$150m (£79.9m) to the Yindjibarndi people of western Australia.
- The compensation was awarded after the court found Fortescue mined their land in the Pilbara region without the consent of its traditional owners, concluding a nearly two-decade legal battle.
- Justice Stephen Burley ruled Fortescue was liable for A$150m in cultural loss and A$100,000 (£53,000) in economic loss., marking the largest payout ever under Australia's native title laws.
- The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation, which holds exclusive native title rights, had sought A$1.8bn, arguing the mining operations destroyed around 250 cultural sites and generated significant revenue for Fortescue.
- Despite the historic ruling, Yindjibarndi community members expressed disappointment with the figure, considering it "peanuts" compared to Fortescue's earnings, and stated their fight is "far from over".
IN FULL
