Indigenous academic Mick Dodson has delivered a warning to the WA Premier, describing compulsory acquisition of land for the Kimberley gas hub as theft and an invasion.

The Premier Colin Barnett is expected to start proceedings to acquire the land at James Price Point through the courts this week.

He says negotiations between traditional owners and Woodside have dragged on too long, cost too much, and he has run out of patience.

Professor Dodson, who's a Yawuru man from Broome, says it is an appalling path to take.

"What I say to the Premier is be very careful about setting precents like this, they can do more damage that you can ever imagine. I think compulsorily acquisition is, in a sense, another act of colonialism, it's another theft of our land, it's another invasion. It should never ever be contemplated at a political level

The Premier has indicated he is frustrated that internal Aboriginal disputes are stalling negotiations and the project.

Professor Dodson says he is appalled at the lack of respect.

"Compulsorily acquisition is something that cuts across that right. It's cuts across people's power to make decisions that they think are in their best interest.

"What the Premier is perhaps saying is that, "well I know what's in your best interest". What we should be saying is, wait Mr Premier, where is the evidence around Australia that that is what will happen because invariably it doesn't turn out that way."

Infighting

Yesterday, Mr Barnett said he could not work with traditional owners after negotiations with the Kimberley Land Council, which represents the indigenous owners, stalled.

"The head of the Council, their executive officer Wayne Bergmann, I think he has done all that he can to bring the Aboriginal people to an agreement.

"But when you just have individual groups within the overall KLC taking legal action against each other, suing each other, I mean, you can't deal with it. I can't deal with it anymore."

Mr Barnett says the issue has been discussed at length in cabinet and he has exhausted his options.

"We've spent $15 million on trying to get an agreement by consent," he said.

"I cannot justify spending any more taxpayers money on an indeterminate process. I met last week with the Kimberley Land Council, one last attempt, you know, nothing back."

An opposition MP Mark McGowan says compulsory acquisition will only make the situtation worse.

"What the Government should do is pull-back, appoint a dedicated negotiator, allow that process to take its course, rather than the steps that Mr Barnett has taken," he said.