Ripper seeks state negotiated settlement to Pilbara rail dispute

<p>Western Australian deputy premier, treasurer and state development minister Eric Ripper has made a plea for a political solution to the Pilbara rail legal confrontation.</p> <p>"I think it would be good to have rail access issues resolved in the Pilbara," Mr Ripper said yesterday (Monday, December 18).</p> <p>"Probably the best way forward is the rail haulage negotiations that are taking place, together with the state government and the companies."</p> <p>In a ruling yesterday, seen in some quarters as having implications for any private infrastructure, the Federal Court ruled that Fortescue Metals Group had a legal right to negotiate a commercial agreement with BHP Billiton on its Pilbara rail lines after deciding they were not part of the iron ore mining process.</p> <p>An appeal to the full Federal Court must be lodged within three weeks on the ruling, which relates Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act.</p> <p>That deals with competition and infrastructure access.</p> <p>Rio Tinto’s Pilbara rail links are also a Fortescue target, with Fortescue government relations manager Julian Tapp telling the <em>Australian</em> : "When we look at developing the west Pilbara, we will be looking at Rio’s railways."</p> <br />