Fortescue ordered to pay Yindjibarndi traditional owners $150m in record native title payout

Federal court found miner’s Solomon Hub iron ore mine caused cultural and social harm, including the destruction of 140 heritage sites

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Mining company Fortescue has been ordered to pay $150m in compensation to traditional owners over cultural losses caused by the multibillion-dollar Solomon Hub iron ore mine – the largest compensation payout in native title history.

The mine, which has extracted millions of tonnes of iron ore and generated an estimated $80bn in revenue for Fortescue since operations began in 2013, was approved by the Western Australian government without the consent of the Yindjibarndi traditional owners.