Indigenous indigenous title holders are looking for a milestone of $ 1.8 billion from the WA government after the fortescue had allowed mine for iron ore without a deal for land use.
In exchange, the WA government is accused of Low -Balling representatives of the Yindjibarndi -Volk -who have exclusive rights to the Pilbara region -after assessing the destruction of hundreds of cultural heritage sites on no more than $ 10 million.
Mining companies and traditional owners both keep a close eye on the federal court case – it is expected that it will be a precedent for how mining activities and traditional rewards of the owner in the country are performed.
Although Fortescue holds native title agreements with seven different indigenous groups in the Pilbara, it does not hold an agreement with the Yindjibarndi people.
The claim comprises $ 1 billion for cultural damage and $ 678 million for economic loss, the archives at the Federal Court turned out to be earlier this month, but has now been reported that the government's counter-offer is between $ 5 and $ 10 million.
The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) has set its action against the WA government for granting the mine permits to Fortescue – which was mentioned as the second respondent in the case.
Experts said the project had damaged more than 285 important archaeological locations in the region.
'$ 5 million- $ 10 million compensation as an aspect of compensation under the Native Title Act that is related to damage to places that include existing sites is of course outrageously low', Jamie Lowe, CEO of National Native Title Council, told Daily Mail Australia.
Mr Lowe added that the offer would fall 'under the quantum determined by the Supreme Court in Timber Creek (compared to the size of the determination area and the degree of damage'.
The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) is looking for $ 1.8 billion of the WA government on the destruction of 285 Aboriginal locations as a result of mining (shown Ynac Chief Executive Michael Woodley)
The Fortescue -Myrew Forrest (photo) has earned billions with its mining activities on the Pilbara site
“If the court lands at $ 5 million $ 10 million, many people have to look very carefully at what they offer,” Gilbert + Tobin partner and native title expert Marshall McKenna told the Australian.
The state governance is tipped on a large scale to submit an application to Fortescue to reclaim any compensation that is ordered against it under legislative provisions that the Mijnbureau has claimed to be unconstitutional.
Worldwide Mijnbureau Fortescue Metals Group started in 2013 with mining activities from his Solomon Hub in the Pilbara region.
Since then it has removed more than $ 50 billion in iron ore from the site, which contributes to the well -lined bags of founder and chairman Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest.
The WA -Government has received hundreds of millions from the Solomon operations in the form of royalty payments.
Fortescue recorded a win of $ 5.7 billion after tax last financial year, making Forrest one of the richest individuals in Australia.
The Yindjibarndi Group won exclusive native title rights on land in 2017 for the Solomon Mining Hub, which is able to deliver up to 80 million tonnes of iron ore per year.
In 2020, the Supreme Court rejected the bid of Fortescue to appeal against the decision of the court and maintaining the indigenous title rights of the Yindjibarndi people over the country.
The decision was the highlight of a struggle of almost two decades for indigenous title rights in the area and the state government exposed to a potentially massive claim for economic and cultural consequences.
If the federal court accepts the calculation of the damage caused by the WA government, experts believe that mining companies throughout the state can reconsider their agreements for land use with indigenous title holders.
National Native title Council President Kado Muir condemned the WA government and accused it of 'Low Balling'.
The federal court is not expected to make its decision until later this year.
The Yindjibarndi people say that cultural sites, including cemeteries, are hit by the Fortescue Metals Group Solomon Hub (photo)
WA is good for about half of 'the Sea supply of the steel ingredient.
Fortescue is the world's fourth largest iron ore producer with tens of thousands of square kilometers of mining homes in the Pilbara region.
It is the largest home holder in the mining state of Australia with larger companies than both Rio Tinto and BHP.
“Fortescue accepts that the Yindjibarndi people are entitled to compensation, but the parties do not agree on the amount of that reimbursement,” a Fortescue spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“It is remarkable that Fortescue has been agreed and financial compensation pays among all his other seven indigenous title agreements.”
Yindjibarndi lawyer Vance Hughston said that cultural sites of the federal court should have an economic value, and ask how much it was worth a nation to have cultural sites back tens of thousands of years.
“They are the kind of things that people say are priceless,” said Mr. Hughston.
Yindjibarndi lawyer Justin Edwards said that the destruction of their country was felt as a deep loss within the Yindjibarndi and cultural ceremonies and habits suffered.
“They have not been done for years or have been done for years as a group of Yindjibarndi people, as a community,” he said.
“The meaning of those ceremonies is not only a personal meaning, it is a meaning, your honor, for the country.”
“The break in this community can be well understood as a break in the country when that spiritual relationship is fully understood.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation for comment.
