Ferguson queries WA Labor gas hub attack

Eric Ripper's leadership of the state Labor party came under friendly fire today when federal resources minister Martin Ferguson questioned the state opposition's attacks on the compulsory acquisition of land at James Price Point for an LNG processing hub.

Speaking during a break in his meetings with industry over the mining tax, Mr Ferguson said he was not defending WA premier Colin Barnett's use of compulsory acquisition to resolve the ongoing dispute over the site of the proposed Kimberley gas hub.

But he wondered how the state Labor party could attack the move given it had also used compulsory acquisition powers when in government.

"Whilst not seeking to defend the premier's actions, I also remind you that the current opposition actually pursued compulsory acquisition when it was in government, in a similar way in which the current government is doing," he said.

"The role of the Commonwealth government is to continue to work with all parties to resolve the outstanding issues."

He said the federal government's focus therefore remained on "if at all possible the completion of a successful indigenous land use agreement".

"I simply say to the Opposition 'don't be quick to contend with what you previously did yourself when in government with respect to the issue of compulsory acquisition'," he said.

However, he said he believed there was still "more than ample time" for the state government to secure an indigenous land use agreement with local traditional owners.

"That is where my energies will go, and that's where I think we will actually land," he said.

Last month, the premier controversially declared the state would proceed with compulsory acquisition of land at James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, for a gas processing hub to house Woodside's $30 billion Browse LNG plant.

The controversial decision came after divisions within native title claimants prevented the finalisation of an indigenous land use agreement more than a year after having signed a heads of agreement over the site.

The April 2009 deal promised to deliver $1.5 billion in social and economic benefits for local aboriginal communities over the life of the project.

The premier argued compulsory acquisition was necessary to provide the certainty needed by the Browse gas partners to reach a final investment decision by mid 2012.

However, the decision has alienated the Kimberley Land Council, the recognised representative of local traditional owners, which had previously been a strong supporter of the 2009 agreement.

While the state opposition has criticised the premier's approach over James Price Point, Mr Ripper was WA's deputy premier in 2003 when the then Labor government compulsorily acquired additional land on Burrup Peninsula for industrial development.

That process however was linked to an associated agreement with local traditional owners granting them freehold title over non-industrial lands on the peninsula, which became the Burrup Peninsula Conservation Reserve.