The NSW Coalition government,the Greens and a group of climate-focused independent candidates at next month’s state election have all criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision as having the potential to reopen the project,with one teal candidate threatening not to assist Labor to form a minority government if required.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his call to revisit the PEP11 gas field decision.Rhett Wyman
Morrison rejected a two-year extension of the controversial gas exploration licence,which covers 4500 square kilometres of ocean off the coast of Sydney and the Central Coast,in 2021,resulting in legal action by gas companies Asset Energy and Bounty Oil&Gas.
However,on Friday it was which,if granted,would nullify that decision.
If the legal action is ended,a final decision on the project will be made by the Commonwealth-NSW Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority.
Albanese told reporters in Sydney’s Eastwood on Saturday he would not be commenting further on the matter,to allow for legal processes to take place.
He ignored questions about whether this constituted a backflip on the project,instead criticising Morrison for creating a “debacle” by as the existing resources minister,Keith Pitt,intended to approve the extension.
“What I won’t do is what the former government did,and essentially create a situation whereby legally,it wasn’t tenable,” he said.
“It is important that myself and the resources minister don’t comment and that we have proper processes;that’s how we got into this circumstance in the first place.”
Despite NSW Labor previously voting against motions relating to PEP11,state opposition leader Chris Minns said he supported Albanese’s decision,although his party’s position had not changed.
“We need to make sure that the mistakes of the last year aren’t repeated,” Minns said.
“And even those that are vehemently against this proposal from going ahead would be devastated if a mistake was made at the Commonwealth level,and then we were back in court.”
Also speaking on Saturday,federal Resources Minister Madeleine King told reporters in Western Australia that the Albanese government was “dealing with the omnishambles that Scott Morrison’s multiple ministries have left behind”.
“I,as the resources minister in this government,will follow proper process so the proponent can have their chance to go through a process that they should have had before,” she said.
On Friday,NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he had written to and had a discussion with Albanese reaffirming his government’s opposition to the extension of PEP11.
“Although a decision has yet to be made by the Federal Court of Australia,I reaffirm our opposition as we have done over a number of years,” he said.
Meanwhile,a coalition of independents who could hold the balance of power in the NSW state parliament after March’s election have promised to push legislation that would bar this and future similar developments.
The amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act would bar offshore drilling projects from using state infrastructure or land for activities such as maintenance and refuelling,a change the group believes would make such projects unviable.
The group comprises member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and five candidates contesting the polls in the city’s north and east next month:Manly’s Joeline Hackman,North Shore’s Helen Conway,Pittwater’s Jacqui Scruby and Lane Cove’s Victoria Davidson,who have,as well as.
Scruby said Labor’s support of the project would be a “critical factor” in determining if she would assist them to form a minority government if elected.
“Our community is incensed by the prospect of oil and gas mining just kilometres off our beaches,and we must do everything we can to make sure PEP11 never eventuates,” Scruby said.