ACCC Approval for WMC Res

BHP Billiton Limited
19 April 2005


     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                 19 April 2005

Number               16/05


  BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION (ACCC)
                     APPROVAL OF BID FOR WMC RESOURCES LTD

BHP Billiton advises that the ACCC has notified BHP Billiton that it does not
propose to intervene in BHP Billiton's acquisition of WMC Resources Ltd.

Accordingly, the condition set out in clause 5.1(e) of the Bidder's Statement
has been fulfilled. This is the third condition of the offer that has been
satisfied.

The offer is $7.85 for each WMC Resources Ltd share and the closing date* of the
offer is 7.30 pm (Melbourne time) on 6 May 2005.

*This date is indicative only and may change as permitted by the Australian
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://
www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                                   United Kingdom

Jane Belcher, 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

Tel: [phone] or [phone]                    Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
email: [e-mail]                         Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
                                                            email: [e-mail]



Further Information for U.S. holders

BHP Billiton has filed the Bidder's Statement with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) under cover of Form CB. Investors and holders of WMC
Resources securities are strongly advised to read the Bidder's Statement and any
other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments and
supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information.
Investors and holders of WMC Resources securities may obtain free copies of the
informational document (when available), as well as other relevant documents
filed with the SEC, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. WMC Resources has
issued a target's statement in connection with the offer which investors and
holders of WMC Recourses securities are strongly advised to read.

This communication is for information purposes only. It shall not constitute an
offer to purchase, sell or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to purchase,
sell or exchange any securities of WMC Resources. The distribution of this
communication may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation.
Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform
themselves of and observe these restrictions.



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