Fortescue regrets causing offence with threat of legal action during bid to destroy Aboriginal sites in Pilbara

CEO tells inquiry letter did not reflect miner's close consultative approach' to Indigenous people

Mining giant Fortescue Metals Group has said it regrets the offence caused by a letter it sent threatening legal action if an application for permission to destroy Aboriginal heritage sites in the Pilbara was not progressed.

Fortescue's chief executive, Elizabeth Gaines, told a federal parliamentary inquiry the letter concerned points of law" to be considered by a Western Australian government committee and did not reflect Fortescue's close consultative approach with Aboriginal people".