A bitter scrap between two of Australia's richest men has spilled over, after mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest accused fellow WA billionaire Kerry Stokes of abusing his media power to pursue his commercial mining interests.
The federal government has been asked to intervene in the public brawl, with Mr Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) requesting Communications Minister Michelle Rowland examine the matter, including whether it raises questions about media diversity.
FMG asserts Mr Stokes has used his WA newspaper The West Australian to damage the company's "green energy mission".
"Fortescue will not be deterred by The West Australian's unjustified and commercially driven attacks," said Mark Hutchinson, chief executive of Fortescue Future Industries.
"We welcome the scrutiny that comes with a free press, however, The West's coverage has gone far beyond fair scrutiny and is clearly driven by fossil fuel interests with the aim of damaging Fortescue's green energy mission.
"Media integrity is key to our democracy, and the misuse of Western Australia's only daily newspaper to pursue commercial interests is worthy of examination."
Mr Stokes is a majority shareholder in Seven Group, which owns mining equipment company WesTrac. Seven Group owns 40 per cent of Seven West Media, which owns The West Australian, the company's premier newspaper asset.
The billionaires' squabble began when Mr Forrest announced Fortescue would become a supplier of mining machinery, in direct competition with WesTrac, which supplies Caterpillar machinery.
Fortescue has placed an order for 120 emissions-free haul trucks, to be delivered in 2025.
Mr Forrest has told staff that The West Australian's coverage of Fortescue was "driven by the narrow, self-seeking, commercial interest" of Mr Stokes's Seven Group.
In a letter to Ms Rowland, Mr Hutchinson described what Fortescue believes to be "the misuse of the West Australian newspaper to pursue commercial interests".
"This matter also pertains directly to the issues of diversity of media ownership in Western Australia, and the ability of the community to access balanced, accurate content," he writes, adding that he was considering raising the matter with the Independent Media Council.
"The minister has received the letter from Fortescue Future Industries and it is being given due consideration."
On Thursday, The West Australian's editor, Anthony De Ceglie, defended the newspaper's reporting in his front-page editorial.
"It must be noted it came after our stories holding FMG to account when WorkSafe was forced to take the serious step of laying charges over one of WA's biggest companies refusing to release documents relating to alleged sexual harassment at its sites," De Ceglie said in his editorial.
"What Mr Forrest's various comments did not include were any specifics. I stand by our reporting, by our journalists, by the stories we choose to pursue and how we do so."
