News

9 February, 2024

Coastal communities from Manly to Newcastle welcome the NSW Government presenting legislation first proposed by independents to ban oil and gas exploration in NSW’s coastal waters. However, Asset energy, the company behind the PEP11 licence application, has indicated this will not stop them seeking approval for this controversial project in the surrounding commonwealth waters off the same coastline.

Zali Steggall MP said: “The NSW legislation is great news, showing the political will to do what’s right by our communities. It’s now over to the Prime Minister, by supporting my Stop PEP11 Bill or similar legislation we could rule out PEP11 in commonwealth waters for good as well.

In opposition, Anthony Albanese said “I am dead against PEP11”. Will the Prime Minister stand by his word and legislate to make PEP11 dead in the water? 

We've had deafening silence from PM on PEP11 since election. I re tabled my Stop PEP11 Bill in February last year and the government voted against it.

I have written to the Prime Minister again asking him to urgently rule out PEP11 and will reintroduce my Stop PEP11 Bill in the coming weeks.

State Government have got behind NSW communities, it’s time the Albanese Government did too.”

The key advantage to Zali’s Stop PEP11 legislation is that it provides a fast and simple resolution to this issue, by banning offshore oil and gas projects in the PEP11 area. By legislating against it, the Government protects our coast for good, side stepping any possible legal action on grounds of bias in the event of a refusal of the application.  

“Legislating is the better way. The NSW Government gets it, why doesn’t the Federal Government?

Communities from Warringah to Newcastle have made it exceedingly clear they are dead against this proposal, it’s time the Albanese Government listened to these coastal communities and act to legislate against this disaster of a proposal”.