Latest news with #Dreamings
Al Jazeera
19-02-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Aboriginal group seeks $1.1bn in damages over Australia mining project
An Aboriginal group is seeking 1.8 billion Australian dollars ($1.15bn) in damages from Western Australia's state government after it allowed a mining firm to establish an iron ore project on its ancestral land without a land use deal, according to court filings. The Federal Court of Australia filings, revealed on Wednesday, showed that the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) claimed that activity at the Solomon hub, run by global mining firm Fortescue, has severely damaged its land and people. The case could prove a landmark one in Australia due to the amount of compensation being sought by the Aboriginal group, as well as potentially opening the door to other claims from Indigenous organisations for past damage to their land. The filings include claims against the state government for 1 billion Australian dollars (almost $637m) to compensate for cultural damage caused as a result of the mining project that it authorised, as well as 678 million Australian dollars (more than $431m) for economic losses. The Federal Court of Australia is hearing arguments this week, but a ruling is not expected until late this year. Should it lose the case, the state government is expected to try and recoup losses by suing Fortescue, the world's fourth-largest miner of iron ore. Fortescue said in a statement to the Reuters news agency that it 'accepts that the Yindjibarndi People are entitled to compensation' due to the project, but it disagrees with the group 'on the amount of that compensation'. The firm's founder, Andrew Forrest, is one of Australia's wealthiest people and his firm recorded a net profit of $5.7bn last financial year, after tax. In 2017, the Yindjibarndi People won exclusive native title rights for land covering the Solomon mining hub, about 60km (37 miles) north of the town of Tom Price in remote Western Australia. Native title is a legal doctrine in Australia recognising land rights for Aboriginal groups. Fortescue's vast mineral-rich project, which is capable of yielding up to 80 million tonnes of iron ore a year, started in the area in 2012. According to experts quoted by the Yindjibarndi People in its court filings, the Solomon mine has caused existential damage to the Aboriginal people through destroying aspects of their land and culture. The Fortescue project has damaged more than 285 significant archaeological sites, as well as six Dreaming or creation story tracks, the report said. In Aboriginal culture, story tracks serve as a map of sacred sites, carrying important cultural knowledge passed down through generations over millennia, and which form part of Australia's understanding of human settlements dating back about 40,000-45,000 years. 'The significant harm to country, people and Dreamings remains ongoing,' the report said.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aboriginal group seeks $1.1 billion from Western Australia in iron ore claim
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An Aboriginal group is seeking A$1.8 billion ($1.1 billion) from Western Australia in compensation after the state government allowed Fortescue to mine for iron ore without a land use deal, court filings showed on Wednesday. The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) says activity at the Solomon mining hub has damaged its land and people. Its claim includes A$1 billion for cultural damage and A$678 million for economic loss, filings to the Federal Court of Australia showed. The case is set to be a landmark not only for the amount of compensation claimed but also because any precedent could open the door to other claims for past damage. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The YNAC is suing the state because it authorised the mining. The state is then expected to try and recoup losses by suing Fortescue, the world's fourth biggest miner of iron ore. "Fortescue accepts that the Yindjibarndi People are entitled to compensation, however the parties disagree on the amount of that compensation," Fortescue said in a statement to Reuters. The Western Australian premier and justice department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. YNAC declined to make additional comment. The court is hearing arguments this week with a decision not expected until late this year. Western Australia accounts for around half of the world's sea borne supply of the steel-making ingredient. In 2020, the destruction of the culturally and historically important Juukan Gorge rock shelters in the Pilbara region by Rio Tinto triggered a global outcry and the departure of its CEO and chairman. Experts quoted in the filings say the Solomon mine has caused existential damage to the Yindjibarndi people, by destroying aspects of their land and culture. The mine has damaged more than 285 significant archaeological sites and six Dreaming or creation story tracks, that form part of Australia's understanding of human settlement in its arid regions around 40,000-45,000 years ago, the report said. "The significant harm to country, people and Dreamings remains ongoing," the report said. The Yindjibarndi group in 2017 won exclusive native title rights over land covering the Solomon mining hub, a vast mineral-rich project that started in 2012 and is capable of yielding up to 80 million tonnes of iron ore a year. Native title is a legal doctrine in Australia that recognises Indigenous rights to certain parcels of land. Fortescue's founder Andrew Forrest is one of Australia's wealthiest people. The miner logged net profit after tax of $5.7 billion last financial year. ($1 = 1.5760 Australian dollars)
Reuters
19-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Aboriginal group seeks $1.1 bln from Western Australia in iron ore claim
MELBOURNE, Feb 19 (Reuters) - An Aboriginal group is seeking A$1.8 billion ($1.1 billion) from Western Australia in compensation after the state government allowed Fortescue ( opens new tab to mine for iron ore without a land use deal, court filings showed on Wednesday. The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation (YNAC) says activity at the Solomon mining hub has damaged its land and people. Its claim includes A$1 billion for cultural damage and A$678 million for economic loss, filings to the Federal Court of Australia showed. The case is set to be a landmark not only for the amount of compensation claimed but also because any precedent could open the door to other claims for past damage. The YNAC is suing the state because it authorised the mining. The state is then expected to try and recoup losses by suing Fortescue, the world's fourth biggest miner of iron ore. "Fortescue accepts that the Yindjibarndi People are entitled to compensation, however the parties disagree on the amount of that compensation," Fortescue said in a statement to Reuters. The Western Australian premier and justice department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. YNAC declined to make additional comment. The court is hearing arguments this week with a decision not expected until late this year. Western Australia accounts for around half of the world's sea borne supply of the steel-making ingredient. In 2020, the destruction of the culturally and historically important Juukan Gorge rock shelters in the Pilbara region by Rio Tinto ( opens new tab triggered a global outcry and the departure of its CEO and chairman. Experts quoted in the filings say the Solomon mine has caused existential damage to the Yindjibarndi people, by destroying aspects of their land and culture. The mine has damaged more than 285 significant archaeological sites and six Dreaming or creation story tracks, that form part of Australia's understanding of human settlement in its arid regions around 40,000-45,000 years ago, the report said. "The significant harm to country, people and Dreamings remains ongoing," the report said. The Yindjibarndi group in 2017 won exclusive native title rights over land covering the Solomon mining hub, a vast mineral-rich project that started in 2012 and is capable of yielding up to 80 million tonnes of iron ore a year. Native title is a legal doctrine in Australia that recognises Indigenous rights to certain parcels of land. Fortescue's founder Andrew Forrest is one of Australia's wealthiest people. The miner logged net profit after tax of $5.7 billion last financial year.
