Andrew Forrest, CEO of Fortescue Metals, is trying to gain access BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto's port and rail infrastructure in the Pilbara region which would enable Fortescue to ship the iron ore reserves that it claims to have discovered in the Pilbara. If Forrest is successful in getting this access, it opens up the potential for Fortescue to become a major player in the industry.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are actively opposing the expansion and access plans. One of the issues is that they see it could cause problems with bottlenecks at the ports as has happened in the coal industry.

Forrest has been accused of using these plans to mine the sharemarket rather than for any real benefit to Australia.

From an article in BRW, August 4-10, 2005 by Adele Ferguson