The Australian Greens say WA Premier Colin Barnett is tearing up years of consultation by threatening to compulsorily acquire land in the Kimberley for the gas industry.

"Threatening Aboriginal communities with compulsory acquisition of their land is a backward, coercive and profoundly unhelpful approach for the new Premier to take. There is no need for Barnett's heavy handed attack on the integrity of the discussions that have been under way for some time," said Senator Scott Ludlam.

"The former Government had adopted a constructive approach of development only with informed consent of Kimberley Traditional Owners, which is no more or less than any other community would expect. Barnett looks set to abandon this approach and take us back to the bad old days."

"Premier Barnett's pre-emptive statement today threatens to undermine the precious goodwill that had accrued between Traditional Owners and their representatives, environment, tourism and heritage organisations, and State and Commonwealth agency personnel.

"The Greens call on the WA Government to adopt some semblance of respect for the people and country in which they are seeking to impose this development, rather than setting up a needless confrontation with the people of the Kimberley and the Federal Government," Senator Ludlam concluded.

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