A class action filed in the federal court in Victoria on 25 June by law firm JGA Saddler and backed by UK litigation funder Aristata Capital alleges systemic sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation at Fortescue’s remote WA iron ore operations, citing incidents including a woman being pulled into a dark alley and forcibly kissed, a female worker finding a male stranger in her accommodation room, and women being warned not to wash underwear in on-site laundries due to rampant theft. The litigation seeks to test Fortescue’s liability for exposing women to discrimination and harassment from 2006 to 2025. A Fortescue spokesperson declined to comment before proceedings begin, stating a commitment to a safe workplace. This is the third class action JGA Saddler has filed against a major miner, following ongoing suits against BHP and Rio Tinto.