Tanya Plibersek backs contentious fertiliser plant on Burrup peninsula

Work on the development had stopped after Save Our Songlines, a separate traditional owners organisation opposed to the project, asked the minister to protect five culturally important sites, including petroglyphs. Three of the five are due to be moved during construction.

Save Our Songlines, which was created after internal division within the corporation over support for industrial development, declined to comment on Monday night. The corporation could not be reached for its response.

Perdaman has said the plant will create up to 2,000 jobs and produce fertiliser for the agricultural industry.

Nearly half of the Burrup peninsula is zoned industrial. The other half is national park and heritage listed.