Stmnt re External Auditors

BHP Billiton Limited
3 May 2002

     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.


3 May 2002
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 Relations                      Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: + 61 3 9609 3540   Mobile: [phone]            Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                       email: [e-mail]

Mandy Frostick, Media Relations                            Ariane Gentil, Manager Communications
Tel: [phone]   Mobile: [phone]             Tel: [phone] Mobile: + 44 7881 518 715
email: [e-mail]                    email: [e-mail]

United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: [phone]   Mobile: [phone]
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: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria    Registered Office: 1-3 Strand London WC2N 5HA United Kingdom
3000                                                       Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]
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              The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia

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