Fortescue cross-appeals $150.3M native title ruling

• Fortescue lodged a cross-appeal in the Federal Court to protect its legal position after Traditional Owners appealed a $150.3 million compensation ruling.
• The legal manoeuvre directly impacts the miner's long-running dispute over its Solomon hub in the Pilbara region.
• The company seeks to defend established legal principles regarding compensation limits while native title holders fight for higher payouts.

Fortescue (ASX:FMG) lodged a cross-appeal in the Federal Court after Traditional Owners challenged a $150.3 million native title compensation judgement involving its Solomon hub.

The Federal Court originally ordered the payout for spiritual and cultural loss after finding the mine destroyed 124 culturally significant sites.

“With the case now before the courts again, Fortescue needs to respond and protect its own legal position,” the company said in a statement.

The Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation appealed the decision, seeking higher economic compensation closer to its initial $1.825 billion claim.

Fortescue stated that its cross-appeal seeks clarity on legal principles after paying the full $150.3 million award.

Following the announcement, the Fortescue share price was up at $16.52.

The original ruling valued economic loss based on pastoral land value, which native title holders argue ignores the iron ore wealth generated since 2012.

This legal challenge represents the largest award for spiritual loss under Australian native title law to date.