Federal government accused of ‘railroading’ traditional custodians over Burrup peninsula rock art site

Murujuga national park in the Burrup peninsula in Western Australia. Traditional custodians want to halt construction of a fertiliser plant that would require the removal of ancient petroglyphs on the peninsula. Photograph: Krystle Wright/The Guardian

Traditional custodians behind a push to halt construction of a fertiliser plant on the Burrup peninsula that would require the removal of Indigenous rock art say they have been given just three days to respond to a 180-page document.

Construction work on the $4.5bn urea plant planned by multinational company Perdaman has been paused for 30 days while the federal environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, considers a request to intervene to protect ancient petroglyphs.