Twiggy slams 'cycle of welfare' as FMG mulls Pilbara native title claim appeal

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Twiggy slams 'cycle of welfare' as FMG mulls Pilbara native title claim appeal

By Hamish Hastie

Fortescue Metals chairman Andrew Forrest has slammed the "cycle of welfare which devastates families" after FMG announced it was considering appealing a Federal Court native title decision covering its Solomon Hub iron ore operation.

The 2017 decision gave the Roebourne-based Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation native title rights over 2700 square kilometres of land, exposing FMG to a potentially massive compensation claim.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest and CEO Elizabeth Gaines at the company's AGM.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest and CEO Elizabeth Gaines at the company's AGM.Credit: Stephen Bell

Earlier this month the Federal Court rejected FMG's appeal on all grounds.

Speaking at the AGM in Perth on Tuesday FMG chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said they were still considering whether they would appeal the decision in the High Court.

Twiggy doubles down

In the past, FMG Chairman and founder Andrew Forrest has branded an uncapped compensation deal with the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation as "mining welfare".

On Tuesday he continued his criticism of the native title deal and said welfare rendered entire populations without hope.

He said it wasn't a community he was going to empower with millions of dollars of shareholders money.

"We've done everything we can to settle with that group but what we're not going to do is to continue to encourage a cycle of welfare, which I've seen through my own childhood, devastate families," he said.

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"I'm not going to empower those leaders to continue doing worse what they have been doing badly."

'Not concerned'

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Michael Woodley said there wasn’t any evidence that mining welfare had a negative effect on Roebourne and called on Mr Forrest to provide proof.

"It is more the opposite of not having the partnerships with industry that had the most impact on my people and community," he said.

"The Yindjibarndi’s partnership with Rio Tinto, as one example is evident that Roebourne is developing and members of our community are empowered by agreements that work."

Mr Woodley said they weren't concerned about any High Court appeal and issued a warning to Fortescue.

"We believe this matter has reached its end with the Federal Courts full bench’s decision," he said.

"A compensation claim against FMG through the Federal Courts will be happening, and that is matter-of-fact."

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