Australian mining giant Fortescue is facing a class action in the Federal Court of Australia over claims it failed to protect female workers from sexual harassment, sex discrimination and hostile workplace behaviour across its Australian operations, according to various media reports.
Filed by law firm JGA Saddler, the case seeks compensation for thousands of women who worked at Fortescue sites between 1 February 2006 and 5 December 2025.
Industry concerns
The lawsuit follows years of scrutiny of workplace culture in Australia's fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining sector.
“During the past few years, there have been various reports and inquiries into sexual harassment in the mining industry. In 2021, the Western Australian government conducted an inquiry into the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) industry and shone a light on a plethora of inappropriate behaviours against females,” JGA Saddler said.
“The stories heard during the inquiry match the various sorts of behaviours commonly described as sexual assault or sexual harassment.”
Worker testimonies
Evidence presented during the inquiry included accounts from women who described repeated harassment on mine sites, as reported by esdnews.
One woman said: “I have been asked how many men I’ve slept with, do I shave, have I ever slept with another women and if so how many?”
Another told the inquiry: “When I was onsite, I often received comments like ‘what is your room number’, I would receive text messages from married men on my crew asking me to go to their room and give them a massage, I would get men knocking on my door in the middle of the night, and hear stories that men will take your underwear from the washing machine.”
Growing scrutiny
Fortescue reported 31 sexual harassment allegations at its Western Australian mines in 2020.
“Reports of sexual harassment at Fortescue have been rising. However, these statistics severely understate the true of extent of sexual harassment at Fortescue,” JGA Saddler said.
The case follows similar class actions brought against Rio Tinto and BHP in 2024 over allegations of sexual harassment, sexual violence and sex discrimination.
Fortescue has invested $300 million in safety and accommodation upgrades across its operations. The company has been contacted for comment.