New financial reports show a handful of Aboriginal groups gaining more income from mining royalties but others going backwards, while the sector as a whole remains the poor cousin.
Mining giant Rio Tinto has paid $125 million to a major Aboriginal group in the Pilbara and is likely to contribute more in future after underpaying royalties over many years.
Rio Tinto has quietly started paying royalties on three big iron ore mines that pre-date native title in what amounts to a major concession to traditional owners in the Pilbara.
