Selection of Single Auditor

BHP Billiton Limited
05 December 2003

     BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure
  obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

    The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc
                                    earlier.


Date                 5 December 2003
Number               38/03


                  REVIEW LEADS TO SELECTION OF SINGLE AUDITOR


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.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://
www.bhpbilliton.com
Australia                                                     United Kingdom
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations                              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                         email: [e-mail]
Tania Price, Media Relations                                  Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                            email: [e-mail]

United States                                                 South Africa
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                        Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                   email: [e-mail]


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne  Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                               Kingdom
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                            The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia






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