Fortescue settles sexual harassment dispute in A$1.4 million deal

Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) has avoided charges for failing to supply documents relating to dozens of alleged sexual harassment cases at its mine sites in Australia.

The Andrew Forrest-chaired company settled the case with Western Australia’s workplace safety watchdog by agreeing to spend A$1.4 million ($950K) on “strategies to address inappropriate workplace behaviours in the mining industry”.

“Fortescue’s investment is well above the fine that could be expected if it was convicted of the underlying charges,” WorkSafe said in the statement.

The regulator noted it had dropped the 34 charges against the iron ore producer, which were all related to “refusing or failing to comply with a requirement to provide documents” related to alleged sexual harassment at its Christmas Creek, Solomon and Cloudbreak operations.

The agreement includes Fortescue vowing to take action in areas like education and performance of contract workers, as well as “enhancing positive culture” among executives.

The WA mining industry pledged to crackdown on sexual harassment and assaults in the workplace after a damning parliamentary report released in 2022.

The long-running investigation looked into abuses at “fly in/fly out” mining sites in remote parts of the Pilbara region, where some of Australia’s largest miners including BHP and Rio Tinto also operate.