ON-COUNTRY COURT HEARINGS IN YINDJIBARNDI FMG BATTLE CONCLUDE

Yindjibarndi man Kevin Guiness with legal counsel. Image Credit: Ngaarda Media.

Hearings in the historic legal battle between the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) and Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) concluded yesterday..

YAC alleges FMG mined for iron ore on their traditional lands without proper permission and is seeking upwards of $500 million in compensation.

FMG alleges that the state should pay that compensation.

This week, the Federal Court of Australia has been holding hearings on Yindjibarndi country, presided over by Justice Stephen Burley.

Yindjibarndi man Kevin Guinness gave testimony yesterday.

Mr Guiness told the court FMG had not received permission to mine or gone about the process in the correct manner.

'“First of all, they need to see the rightful owner of the country, and they should come with an open heart and feeling and respectful of the ngurrara of that country,” he said.

He said he was worried about the long-term effects of FMG’s Solomon Hub Iron Ore project.

“I am concerned with the impact of mining on our water. Water is important for animals, birds, trees,” he said.

Mr. Guiness said FMG’s support of breakaway Yindjibarndi group, Wirlu-Murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation has divided the once-united community.

“We shared out culture as one. We shared language as one to our young generations. We carried that lore as one,” he said.

“Now, the mining company man been come, he split us up like that. 

“From one, then he comes and split us.”