The Australian federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek approved a controversial $4.5bn fertiliser plant near ancient rock art on WA’s Burrup peninsula after it secured support of a local Aboriginal corporation. Work on the plant stopped earlier this year after a separate traditional owners organisation Save Our Songlines, asked the minister to protect five culturally important sites. The environment minister said she would not request an emergency pause on the project because such a request would not be supported by the corporation and its circle of elders.

In a response to the decision by Plibersek to let the plant go ahead, Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) said the decision supports fetiliser manufacturing in Australia which “helps farmers deal with soaring costs of farm inputs.” ADF has been advocating the importance of shoring up Australia’s fertiliser production directly to the environment minister, lobbying for exploration and development of fertiliser production in Australia.