Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) ingeniously set up a splinter aboriginal leadership group to counter the recognized aboriginal leaders of the Yindjibarndi People to free up land for mining.
The iron ore miner used his hard earned cash to facilitate the splinter groups’ operations without the knowledge of participating Yindjibarndi members and gave it an incredibly indigenous sounding name, the Wirlu-Murra group.
A native title meeting was setup by FMG through the newly established indigenous group – transporting people who were willing to vote to sell off the land – to fashion an ad-hoc ballot for legal acquirement of the Yindjibarndi People’s land.
Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest used a superbly crafted speech at the impromptu ballot that should become required viewing for any child aspiring to become a public relations guru.
‘The more you know Aboriginal people, the more you love them. I deeply respect Aboriginal People,’ Andrew Forrest said with a skillfully fashioned heartfelt expression.
The mining magnate and his billion dollar mining corporation continues to be a shining example of the advantages of public relations and elite accountants with donations of $90 million of assets in 2010 to his charity promoting indigenous employment receiving widespread media attention but only costing a net personal cost of around $2 million.
