Canadian Mining Firm Fined for Damaging Aboriginal Sacred Site in Australia

An Australian court has fined Canadian mining company Vista Gold Australia Pty Ltd A$160,000 (US$102,868) for illegally drilling in a protected Aboriginal sacred site in the Northern Territory, Anadolu Agency reported.

The company admitted guilt last month after its own press release alerted authorities to the violation. Investigations revealed that 12 out of 26 drilling holes were within the boundaries of the sacred site near Mount Todd, where Vista Gold is developing a project estimated to contain 10 million ounces of gold.

Acting Judge Steven Ledek condemned the breach as a “mercenary exercise,” stating the fine was “insignificant” compared to the company’s projected $500 million profit from the site. “This had everything to do with the price of gold,” he remarked.

The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between mining operations and Indigenous land protections in Australia.