"Andrew Forrest says signing Yindjibarndi royalty agreement will lead to Alice Springs style chaos", 15 February 2023

Mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has defended not signing a native title compensation agreement with Yindjibarndi traditional owners in the Pilbara, saying it could lead to an Alice Springs style "alcohol disaster". 

The Yindjibarndi people were awarded native title with exclusive possession by the Federal Court in 2017, and then beat an appeal against the decision by Fortescue Metals Group, which was founded by Mr Forrest.

The iron ore miner tried to appeal to the High Court, but it refused to grant leave to FMG to appeal in 2020. 

However, negotiations over an Indigenous Land Use agreement fell through in 2021, and the Yindjibarndi have launched a native title compensation case in the Federal Court to force FMG to pay royalties for mining on their country.

[...]

"Ending the Indigenous disparity is not done with cash," Fortescue's executive chairman said [...].

"We're not going to exacerbate opportunity without responsibility, which has caused the deep social harms, which we are witnessing today."

Alcohol-fuelled crime and anti social behaviour in Alice Springs captured national attention in recent weeks [...].

On a conference call with journalists and analysts to discuss to the iron ore miner's latest earnings release, Mr Forrest slammed what he called "an era of cash for nothing." 

"I believe in real, practical action to end the savage disparity, which has grown and grown, over the period that I have been alive," he said.

[...]

However, Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Michael Woodley said Mr Forrest's position was "disingenuous" and said his people deserve compensation.

He said social problems were linked to disadvantage due to the ongoing effects of colonisation, not mining royalties and welfare payments.

[...]