Indigenous Australians Win Record A$150m After Billionaire Mined Without Permission
An Australian court ordered a record A$150 million (about US$100 million) in compensation to Indigenous owners after a billionaire's company mined land without permission. The ruling is being described as the country's largest payout linked to native land rights. The case sets a major legal precedent.
Australia's Federal Court ordered a company that mined land without permission to pay A$150 million in compensation to the Indigenous owners. The land in question is located in Western Australia and the case followed years of legal effort by the traditional owners' organisation. The court found the unauthorised operation had clearly violated the rights of the traditional owners.
The defendant company is a subsidiary of a holding owned by an Australian billionaire. It had argued the activity was carried out under permits issued in a previous period. The court's reasoning concluded that the claims were not supported by the available evidence and documentation.
The decision is being interpreted as a precedent-setting step for native title rights in Australia. Legal experts say a stricter application of existing permit and consultation procedures could significantly reshape the operational decisions of mining companies in coming years.
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