Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote to the NSW government and the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) in December to notify them he would refuse an application to renew Offshore Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP-11).
NOPTA then notified joint venture partners Advent Energy and Bounty Oil and Gas of the intention to cancel PEP-11 and gave them 30 days to respond.
On Wednesday,Mr Morrison said that after considering the company’s response he had written to the NSW government to formally request it refuse to renew the licence,effectively killing the prospect of drilling.
“I have written to NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole,as the joint authority partner,advising of the government’s proposed decision,” Mr Morrison said.
NSW is required to respond within 30 days. Former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said last yearPEP-11 should be scuttled.
PEP-11 covers 4500 square kilometres and starts 4.5 kilometres off the coast from Sydney’s famous beaches.
The Liberals are under pressure in their northern Sydney strongholds. The NSW party suffered a 20 per cent swing to an independent candidate in the blue-ribbon seat of Willoughby,which currently hangs in the balance as counting continues after Saturday’s byelection.