Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), which represented the PKKP traditional owners of Juukan Gorge over the nine years they spent negotiating a binding initial agreement with Rio Tinto, said it expressed concerns about the “non-objection clauses” on numerous occasions during the negotiations. Devastated PKKP representatives gave evidence on Monday, saying Rio Tinto “didn’t want to know” about the importance of the Juukan Gorge site which it blew up in May to extract $188 million worth of high-grade iron ore. Rio had approval under WA’s outdated Aboriginal Heritage Act to destroy the site but failed to act on expert reports noting it was among the most significant in Australia. “The answer is that we do not have the power or resources of FMG or Rio Tinto. The latest Fortescue Metals Group news, articles, data and analysis from The Sydney Morning Herald Fortescue Metals Group is allegedly withholding $1.9m in royalty payments from Aboriginal people in the Pilbara because the owners “asked for information about their plans” for several mining leases before signing them, a federal parliamentary inquiry has been told. Bevan listed four examples of dispute notices WGAC issued between October 2018 and January 2019, which included other cases of non-payment of royalties by FMG. “These were nine mining leases we were asked to sign about a year ago,” Bevan said. Toggle Menu. The reduced spend does not involve any cancelled projects; Fortescue said it would reflect the timing of payments on projects that are under way. “Last week that approval process recommenced, following the satisfactory conclusion of these discussions.”.

Fortescue Metals Group has signalled it is committed to its dividend policy despite the coronavirus clouding the outlook for commodities, after the pandemic and cyclones failed to derail a near perfect year for the iron ore miner. “We are committed to open and transparent engagement to facilitate the outstanding royalty payment, in accordance with the contractual agreement and the obligations of both parties,” Gaines said. “FMG are currently doing what they like on Eastern Guruma country and paying nothing for it.”. The miner had promised to export no more than 175 million tonnes in the year to June 30, but a strong performance over the past nine months prompted it to upgrade that target to as much as 177 million tonnes on Thursday. WGAC director Joselyn Hicks told the Northern Australia Committee that FMG has withheld $1.9 million in royalty payments since February because traditional owners have sought more information about their mining lease plans. In the News. There’s no power or disciplinary action,” Bevan said. Hundreds of other sites remained at risk, she added. Five of those mines we knew nothing about and there are a number of very significant sites and areas in those mining leases.”. The Guruma say the royalties – which relate to a separate agreement – are being withheld because they have been asking about FMG’s plan for nine leases in areas that contain numerous sacred sites. We did not know that our sacred springs would dry up. Fortescue Metals Group Limited . Fortescue Metals Group has signalled it is committed to its dividend policy despite the coronavirus clouding the outlook for commodities, after the pandemic and cyclones failed to derail a … BHP's ambitions for Olympic Dam continue to shrink, Vale delivers Brazil's best iron ore output since Brumadinho disaster, Dalrymple Bay and the $1b chase for coal hard cash, Sale of 50pc of Thiess for up to $1.9b boosts CIMIC, Westpac hitches a ride on Afterpay's juggernaut, The future of consulting: shorter, sharper, cheaper, Perth Mint holding $100m of gold for tax haven clients, The 10 most powerful people in Australia in 2020, Premiers, doctors and bankers back in charge but PM still on top, The list to be on: 20 years of the AFR Magazine Power issue, Nobody from Netflix has been to jail, and that's kind of surprising, 'Capital is getting a conscience': Worley CEO's new approach, This surf-mad director has no fear of sharks (or cold water), Whoop it up like Harry Styles in Brisbane's $25,000-a-night penthouse, Rich Lister's plant-based meat gets backing from Asian-based investors, Forrest chases more Aussie icons after $190m RM Williams deal, Wealthy Melbourne family enters property loan game, Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd.

Fortescue’s Eliwana mine delivers jobs for Aboriginal people. Hockey carnivals are a hit with Pilbara students. Latest News . “These mining leases contain numerous sacred sites,” she told the inquiry on Tuesday. FMG, New Zealand’s leading rural insurer says nesting birds continue to account for around $700k worth of tractor fir... 25 September 2020 / Client Stories Marion and Graham Hirst - Hawkes Bay Orchardists About FMG; FMG News; You are viewing articles for : Client Stories . Fortescue shares closed 1.8 per cent higher. The regulator has criticised Crown Resorts for failing to act on "suspicious" transactions its Melbourne casino was aware were linked to shady gaming junket operators. "We are committed to investment in the Pilbara and job creation and are focused on working with the state government to ensure that Fortescue continues to be a significant long-term contributor to the state and national economy through growth and development of our iron ore assets.". “That discussion has never occurred and FMG as a result decided to withhold royalties until such time as we have signed the leases,” he said. The strong output is well timed, given iron ore is fetching abnormally strong prices on the back of export downgrades by Vale and Rio Tinto in the past two months. “There’s a pattern of non-payment of royalties and, to be honest, country is more important than money, protecting heritage is more important.”.

“In early 2019, Fortescue varied this agreement with Wintawari to include new exclusion zones on Eastern Guruma native title lands and provide a range of additional benefits to Wintawari,” FMG chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said in a statement. Phil Gostelow.

“Since that time Fortescue has met with Wintawari on six occasions and worked to avoid and protect areas that were identified by Wintawari as being of high cultural significance,” Ms Gaines said. Ms Gaines said Fortescue would seek to work with customers in places like Japan and Korea if they wanted to defer delivery of iron ore, amid concerns that lockdowns could dramatically affect demand in those nations in coming months. There are no penalties for non-compliance so the breaches continue. Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group is withholding royalties to a Pilbara Indigenous group until it signs off on mining leases, a parliamentary inquiry has been told. “Under the access agreement they are meant to have given us notice of those mining leases and come and discussed them with us. Ms Hicks said both FMG and Rio had made decisions not to proceed with disrupting Eastern Gurruma sites following the destruction of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters on Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) country. PKKP only learned the rock shelters would be destroyed nine days prior to the blast. “We welcome these decisions but it is sad that it has to take the destruction of the PKKP’s site and international media to make the companies and state government pause for thought,” she said. The Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC) says the stand-off reflects the significant power imbalance between miners and traditional owners. FMG.NEWS, this news database, which contains information for our readers, where the best of the sport and culture, finance and business, health and entertainment. Premier Daniel Andrews signalled restrictions on retail and hospital will be eased early as Victoria's numbers dwindle to nothing. “We have asked FMG to reconsider their decision and they have advised us they will only pay the royalties when we sign off the mining leases. Here is Tuesday's virus briefing. Bevan alleged FMG “routinely” breached its agreement with the Eastern Guruma people.