The emperor needs to let go of James Price Point

Colin Barnett's bitter obsession with James Price Point must end, the WA Greens said today.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the State Government's plan to acquire the land despite huge local opposition to its industrialisation and Woodside's withdrawal was "vindictive and reckless".

"Premier Barnett, please - it's over. This is a pristine part of the Kimberley's coast; it was never appropriate for industrialisation and it never will be. The Premier is now standing in the way of progress. It's time to move on," said Senator Ludlam.

Fellow WA senator Rachel Siewert said "Woodside recognised there are better alternatives for processing any Browse LNG and the State Government needs to do the same".

"Woodside and leading companies in the sector are moving towards offshore processing. Even if Browse LNG is to be processed onshore, James Price Point is one of the worst possible sites for it in terms of environmental impact. The Premier's fixation with James Price Point effectively scuttled the chance for onshore processing, but he appears to have learned nothing."

Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Robin Chapple said "it is vital that the economic benefits from resource extraction in the region are fairly distributed amongst the Traditional Owners, and that doesn't require the destruction of James Price Point".

"It is unacceptable that Indigenous people are expected by governments and corporations to give up so much in order to access the same kinds of services and opportunities most Western Australians take for granted as citizens. Wherever the LNG is processed - the Traditional Owners should benefit from the huge profits being extracted from their country," said Mr Chapple.