Freight Link opponents confront WA premier

An angry crowd of protesters opposed to the Perth Freight Link project have confronted Premier Colin Barnett on the steps of parliament.

The Rethink the Link activists brought a big cardboard white elephant to represent their view of the $1.6 billion federal-funded project, which will go through the Beeliar wetlands.

After Mr Barnett emerged to hear the speakers, the crowd demanded he answer questions and called on him to justify the project.

He insisted it was going ahead and would be built to the highest environmental standards.

That was met with jeers, as was his suggestion the rally was a Labor party event.

"I understand and I respect your views about the Beeliar wetlands, I truly do," Mr Barnett said.

He said the route of the most contentious part of the project, the Roe 8 highway extension, went between lakes.

The road would be elevated by a bridge to allow migration of native species, he said.

"There will be significant disturbance during construction, no-one would deny that," Mr Barnett said.

"However, when this road is built it will not interfere with the natural environment."

That comment was met with loud boos.

The rally was held in tandem with a protest at the Roe 8 site at Bibra Lake, where dozens of police arrived after protesters sat down to block a drilling crew.

While Labor said that was a waste of police resources, the activists were incensed to see work underway when a hearing for a Supreme Court challenge to the Roe 8 environmental approval is scheduled for next week.

Mr Barnett said the crew was checking conditions in the water table.

"That is all it is," he said.

"They weren't under construction."

Mr Barnett said the construction contracts would be awarded before Christmas.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder was also jeered when he spoke to the crowd.