The Wire

The controversial James Price Point Gas project in the Kimberly region is one step closer to being a done deal. A close community vote gave it the go ahead – with 164 votes for, 108 against and 5 abstentions. However there has been outrage over the tactics employed by the Western Australian Government administering the vote, in which they threatened ‘compulsory acquisition’ of the land. Traditional land owners are saying that the decision was forced – comparing it to having a gun held to the head. It is now up to Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to sign off the final deal.