Butler protests outside mine headquarters

About 150 protestors joined musician John Butler as he performed outside BHP Billiton's Melbourne headquarters this morning to protest the company's involvement in the proposed James Price Point gas hub in Western Australia's Kimberley region.

Later today thousands are expected to flood Melbourne's Federation Square as the John Butler Trio join former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown and musicians Clare Bowditch and Missy Higgins at a free concert to support protection of the iconic Kimberley.

Butler said the Kimberley was one his favourite places and on all grounds, the proposed gas refinery at James Price Point was not sustainable.

"We are gathering outside BHP Billiton to urge the company to pull out of the James Price Point gas project and explore more, practical, profitable and sustainable options in the Pilbara, where existing facilities already are," Mr Butler said.

"They can exploit the Browse gas basin without desecrating one of the most culturally and environmentally rich parts of our country.

"It's so pristine and dynamic; a rich and diverse countryside offering brilliant coastal blues alongside vivid red cliffs. It's culturally and environmentally abundant; a rare and beautifully wild place.

"To think of industrialising this truly special region in order to exploit a resource when it is more profitable and practical to process it somewhere else seems absolutely ludicrous."