Number 38/03

BHP Billiton today announced that its Risk Management and Audit Committee had completed a review of its external audit services.  At the 2003 Annual General Meetings BHP Billiton announced that it was undertaking a review of its joint audit arrangements.

As part of the review, proposals were invited from PWC and KPMG, the Company’s current joint auditors, on ways to enhance the efficiency of the audit going forward.

BHP Billiton said that on the recommendation of the Committee, the Board had resolved that the audit could be more efficiently undertaken by a single audit firm.  KPMG, one half of the existing joint audit team, has been selected to continue as auditor.

The Board expressed its appreciation to PWC for its service.

For further information please contact:

Australia
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952  Mobile: +61 408 313 259
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com

Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815  Mobile: +61 419 152 780
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com

United Kingdom
Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com

Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: +44 20 7802 4177  
email: Ariane.Gentil@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625  Mobile: +1 713 480 3699
email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com

South Africa
Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: +27 11 376 3360  Mobile: +27 82 458 2587
email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com