NEWS RELEASE
Date       3 May 2002
Number     28/02
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES EXTERNAL AUDITORS
At the time of the merger, BHP Billiton announced it would put its external
audit to tender and would confine the tendering parties to those of its
current auditors - KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers (previously joint
auditors for Billiton) and Andersen (previously BHP's auditor).
The Board today announced the appointment of KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers
as joint auditors from the commencement of the 2003 financial year.
The Risk Management & Audit Committee of the Company will work with all
three existing auditors to ensure a smooth transition from Andersen.
Membership of that Committee will, along with all other Committees of the
Board, be reconstituted following the re-structure of the Board that was
announced yesterday.  Details of Committee membership will be announced at a
later time.
In announcing the appointment of the auditors the Board reiterated current
company policy relating to the performance of non-audit work by the
statutory audit firms.  The policy was implemented in 2001.  Non-audit work
is prohibited where independence may be compromised or conflicts arise.
The Board expressed its appreciation to Andersen for that firm's commitment
and service to BHP and its shareholders over more than 60 years.
***
Further information can be found on our Internet site:
http://www.bhpbilliton.com.
Australia                             United Kingdom/South Africa
Dr. Robert Porter, Investor           Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media
Relations                             Relations
Tel: + 61 3 9609 3540                 Tel: +44 20 7747 3956
Mobile: +61 419 587 456               email:
email: Robert.Porter@bhpbilliton.com  Mark.T.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Mandy Frostick, Media Relations       Ariane Gentil, Manager
Tel: +61 3 9609 4157                  Communications
Mobile: +61 419 546 245               Tel: +44 20 7747 3977
email:                                Mobile: + 44 7881 518 715
Mandy.J.Frostick@bhpbilliton.com      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