Bill seeks to stymie any Federal action
Pittwater MP Rory Amon has put forward a private members bill to ban off-shore mining and exploration off the coast of Manly and the Northern Beaches.
The bill would deliver on Coalition policy to prevent offshore mining and exploration in New South Wales (NSW), by prohibiting the granting of development consents, permits and licences for seabed petroleum exploration or recovery.
An act resulting from the bill – which also aims to quash infrastructure development intended to facilitate exploration in state waters – would amend the Petroleum (Offshore) Act 1982 and bring a halt to Northern Beaches gas and oil exploration proposed in the Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP-11).
Advent Energy currently holds the only exploration title to drill and explore for gas in the seabed off the NSW coast, and it has re-applied to the Federal Government for this permit.
While mining comes under federal jurisdiction, Mr Amon says the Federal Government would not be able to act if the NSW Parliament passed a law to ban off-shore mining.
“Pittwater is just one of many coastal electorates which holds deep concerns about the environmental impact of mining and exploration off our shore,” Mr Amon said.
“For many years, a blame game has ensued between State and Federal governments. My Pittwater community wants action, and action is what this bill will deliver once it is law,” Mr Amon said.
Advent Energy argues that natural gas plays a ‘critical role’ in enabling the energy transition across NSW. Controversially, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison rejected Advent’s renewal application for its exploration permit in late-2021, despite not having authority to make such a decision. The Federal Court quashed the ruling in 2022, meaning the energy giant could reapply for permission to continue coastal water exploration in the area.
Warringah MP Zali Steggall introduced a bill to end PEP-11 in Federal Parliament earlier this year. She confirmed that, as the decision regarding PEP-11 rests with a joint state/federal authority, changes were needed now more than ever in order to squash the application and any future legal challenges.
The bill was scheduled to be debated in State Parliament on June 29, after this issue went to print.