SYDNEY: An Austra­lian court on Tuesday ordered miner Fortescue to pay $108 million in compensation to an Indigenous group for a cultural loss caused by iron ore mining on their land without their permission.

The decision marks one of the largest ever payouts in Australia’s history brou­ght under native title laws recognising Indigenous rights and interests in certain parcels of land.

Federal Court of Australia Judge Stephen Burley ruled Fortescue caused “significant damage” to the cultural heritage of the Yindjibarndi people of Western Australia.

He concluded that the miner was liable to pay A$150 million in compensation for cultural loss and A$100,000 for economic loss. Fortescue, founded by billionaire Andrew Forrest, said in a statement it accepted that the Yindjibarndi people were entitled to compensation.

“Dr Andrew Forrest and Fortescue care deeply about all First Nations people, including the Yindjibarndi community,” it said.

The Yindjibarndi people brought a claim against the miner and the Western Australian state government for A$1 billion in cultural loss and in excess of A$800 million in economic loss, arguing it should be paid a share of the profits from the mine.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2026