One of WA's largest Aboriginal corporations says Rio Tinto is not serious in its efforts to modernise a contentious land use agreement, with tens of millions of dollars at stake.
Rio Tinto has signed an updated agreement with the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation that will result in a substantial increase in compensation payments and commercial opportunities.
A multi-million dollar compensation claim on behalf of the Yindjibarndi people could turn into a fight between the WA government and Fortescue Metals Group over who bears responsibility.
The state government has approved an application by the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation to build accommodation at Millstream Chichester National Park, with the company to develop glamping tents, caravan sites and a new restaurant at the park.
Fortescue Metals Group's recent awarding of $179 million in contracts to Aboriginal businesses highlights two different approaches to indigenous development.
Rio Tinto has awarded $110 million in new contracts for its Pilbara operations, with the beneficiaries including indigenous contractor Yurra and global mining services firm FLSmidth.
Fortescue Metals Group will appeal the Federal Court ruling granting exclusive rights to the Yindjibarndi people over Pilbara land where the company operates its Solomon hub, three weeks after the state government welcomed the decision.
Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Nev Power says the value of minerals would be excluded from its looming compensation battle against the Yindjibarndi people, but that claim has been disputed by the native title group's legal team.
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation will seek compensation from Fortescue Metals Group after the Federal Court recognised it has exclusive rights over Pilbara land where the company operates the Solomon hub.
Indigenous corporations in Western Australia have experienced a fall in average income for the first time in five years, though the state's largest Aboriginal corporations, listed in the BNiQ Search Engine, have defied the downturn.
A long-running dispute involving the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Fortescue Metals Group is set to continue after YAC members re-elected a bloc of directors who had recently been replaced by a court-appointed receiver.
The Supreme Court has appointed a receiver to take charge of the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation in the lead-up to a general meeting set for next month to settle a long-running dispute with a breakaway organisation backed by Fortescue Metals Group.
The Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, which has been mired in years of controversy, has been referred to the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations after the Supreme Court found it did not have validly appointed directors.
Indigenous contracting in the Pilbara is getting more competitive, more complicated and arguably more divisive, as players chase a shrinking pool of work.
Indigenous contractor Yurra has formed a joint venture with BGC Contracting to provide services to Rio Tinto's rail work in Cape Lambert and Dampier, with the value of the deal undisclosed.
The Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation has continued to benefit from being one of Fortescue Metals Group's preferred indigenous partners, having joined with Thiess to win an $85 million contract in the Pilbara.
MINING construction projects have continued to be fruitful territory for indigenous contractors in Western Australia, with the latest initiative teaming an experienced contracting group with a new
Experienced Aboriginal contracting group Eastern Guruma has teamed up with a new entrant to the sector, Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, to win a $200 million contract in the Pilbar
UPDATE: Fortescue Metals Group has vehemently denied claims from a native title group that it is operating unlawfully with regards to Aboriginal heritage at one of its Pilbara mines.
