West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has been heckled by protesters in Broome over the proposed $30 billion gas hub at James Price Point.
Mr Barnett was shouted at and booed as he stopped to talk to about 30 protesters before entering the Kimberley town's ABC studios for an interview.
With police officers at hand, Mr Barnett fronted the protesters and told them he believed the Woodside Petroleum-led project would go ahead but a final decision was still at least 12 months away.
The premier said James Price Point was selected through an exhaustive process and it would have a significant impact on that site.
"You'll find that once it's operational it will not have a dramatic impact on Broome," he said.
In his ABC interview, Mr Barnett defended the siting of the project at James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, saying it would provide jobs and opportunities, particularly for the Kimberley's Aboriginal people.
The controversial gas hub proposal to process liquified natural gas (LNG) from the Browse Basin off the Kimberley coast has divided the Broome community and the local Aboriginal community.
Mr Barnett visited Broome to discuss the gas hub project with Woodside, the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) and the shire council.
The KLC, on behalf of traditional landowners, has signed off on the deal which would deliver $1.5 billion in benefits to the region's Aboriginal communities.
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