Yindjibarndi传统业主在社区大会上投票一致同意上诉联邦法院的赔偿裁决[1]。今年5月，法院裁定Fortescue公司因未经协议同意在皮尔巴拉地区建造运营四座矿山，需赔偿该社区文化损失1.5亿澳元及经济损失15万澳元，加上复利[1]。该判决认定，采矿作业导致240处神圣遗址无法进入，至少124处被摧毁[1]。
Yindjibarndi人已在8月27日的法定期限前提起上诉[1]。这次诉讼反映了该社区与采矿公司长达数十年的法律纠纷[1]。原告方最初要求赔偿18亿澳元，而Solomon Hub自2013年开始运营以来已产生约80亿澳元收入[1]。Fortescue公司已于7月1日支付了全部1.503亿澳元赔偿金[1]。Andrew Forrest表示，"Fortescue一直坚定致力于让这笔钱尽快送到Yindjibarndi社区"[1]。根据程序规定，Fortescue和州政府可在9月9日前提起交叉上诉[1]。
The Yindjibarndi people of Western Australia's Pilbara region have voted unanimously to challenge a federal court's native title compensation ruling in an ongoing legal dispute with mining company Fortescue.[1] The community decision comes after a May court judgment that ordered Fortescue to pay AUD 150.3 million in damages for unauthorized mining operations, comprising AUD 150 million for cultural losses and AUD 150,000 for economic harm, plus accrued interest.[1] The Yindjibarndi lodged their appeal before the August 27 deadline, continuing a legal battle with mining magnate Andrew Forrest that spans decades.[1]
The court found that Fortescue constructed and operated four mines without consent, rendering 240 sacred sites inaccessible and destroying at least 124 of them.[1] The Solomon Hub operations, which began generating revenue in 2013, have produced approximately AUD 8 billion in income since their inception.[1] The Yindjibarndi initially sought AUD 1.8 billion in compensation for the destruction.[1] Fortescue has already paid the full AUD 150.3 million awarded by the court as of July 1, with Andrew Forrest stating that "Fortescue has remained steadfast in its commitment to getting this money to the Yindjibarndi community as quickly as possible."[1] The company and Western Australian government retain the option to lodge cross-appeals by September 9.[1]