Fortescue and WA government say traditional owners’ $1.8bn compensation claim is worth $8m

<p>Yindjibarndi people allege mining giant did not get permission from native title holders, while company says community ‘disharmony’ is not its fault</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/25/australia-news-live-labor-election-campaign-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-cost-of-living-mobile-coverage-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></li><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>Traditional owners in Western Australia are seeking more than $1bn in compensation for the Solomon Hub iron ore mine, but mining giant Fortescue Metals Group and the WA government say their claim is worth less than $10m.</p><p>The federal court justice Stephen Burley is hearing final submissions this week in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/27/pilbara-native-title-case-the-fight-to-decide-if-fortescue-pays-compensation-to-indigenous-owners">long-running legal dispute</a> between the Western Australian government, Fortescue (FMG) and the Yindjibarndi people over the multibillion-dollar iron ore mine in the Pilbara region.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/25/fortescue-wa-government-yindjibarndi-compensation-claim-pilbara-mine">Continue reading...</a>