But last year Fortescue moved to sign up a different supplier for its heavy mining vehicles because it was able to deliver a fleet of more environmentally friendly vehicles on a tighter timetable.

The Forrest camp argues that it was after losing this contract that Stokes’ media outlets – particular his West Australian newspaper – began to run a negative campaign against Forrest’s private and public companies.

In response, Forrest called Stokes who allegedly said he would look into it.

The pair are at such extreme odds that they are even in dispute about what the dispute is about.

But the coverage by The West Australian around Fortescue’s half-year results released on Wednesday and its criticism of Fortescue’s initial move (later changed) not to provide documents around sexual harassment complaints to WorkSafe, remained critical.

The Stokes camp counters that many other media mastheads, including this one, were also critical of the sexual harassment issue and have regularly questioned Forrest’s investments in decarbonisation.

Recently, all media outlets have given coverage to staff redundancies in Fortescue’s green arm, Fortescue Future Industries, and executive churn.

While not speaking directly to journalists one gets the impression from the Stokes camp that he takes the view that this altercation is the result of Forrest’s dislike of reasonable criticism or scrutiny. And publicly Stokes’ son Ryan, who is clearly attempting to hose down the debate, has called Fortescue a valued customer, adding that editorial comment is independent.

That’s not how Forrest sees it. He accuses The West Australian newspaper of biased, inflammatory and inaccurate reporting.

The iron ore magnate came out full guns blazing on Wednesday, sending a video message to his staff saying the reporting by The West Australian, “could well be driven by the narrow, self-seeking, commercial interest which does not support the steps we have all taken to make polluting, mobile equipment history”.

The two billionaires and their private companies have also had a parting of ways on controversial plans to co-develop WA government-owned riverside land in East Perth on top of the dispute over mining machinery and reporting in The West.

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Stokes’ private company ACE has opted out of the joint venture for commercial reasons at the eleventh hour. This is not thought to be at the heart of the broader dispute but is perhaps a symptom of it.

For Forrest, the stoush with Stokes is the second billionaire battle this year. He had a public spat with green evangelist Michael Cannon-Brookes over the future of the $30 billion Sun Cable power transmission project that led to it being placed into voluntary administration in January.

That battle has gone quiet, but there will be more episodes to play out between Stokes and Forrest.

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