Indigenous leaders say the Fortescue and Yindjibarndi matter proves the current system financially incentivises miners from proceeding with projects without consent.

Indigenous leaders say the Fortescue and Yindjibarndi matter proves the current system financially incentivises miners from proceeding with projects without consent.

Lawyers for the mining giant owned by the billionaire Andrew Forrest filed their defence late on Wednesday, arguing they too spent money on the nixed project.

The Yindjibarndi case boosts the case for law reform to establish minimum standards in agreements between developers and Indigenous communities.