Millions of coral eggs and embryos during two separate spawning events – one in Exmouth and the other in Coral Bay – to save the reefs after a mass bleaching event. But Cyclone Narelle threatened to derail the project.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) confirmed 90 per cent of its members at BHP’s Pilbara port operations had backed the proposal to stop work, with strike action expected to be imminent.