Australian Greens: Greens urge Labor to recommit opposition to PEP-11

The Greens urge Labor to publicly recommit its opposition to PEP-11 after revelations of the former PM’s extraordinary intervention to kill the unpopular project.

Reports that Scott Morrison secretly swore himself in as resources minister and used the power to roll his own frontbencher over PEP-11 have led to the project’s proponent indicating it may seek to overturn the government’s decision.

If Labor remains serious about stopping PEP-11 it should bring on and vote for the Greens’ Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Fight for Australia’s Coastline) Bill, which would put the demise of PEP-11 beyond doubt and prohibit any future petroleum exploration or production in the area for good. 

Quotes attributable to Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“We knew at the time that the former PM’s unprecedented intervention to stop offshore oil and gas drilling in PEP-11 was a political decision, given the strong community opposition to this project in several blue-ribbon federal electorates under threat from climate-conscious independents. 

“What these latest revelations demonstrate more than anything are the extreme measures the former PM was willing to take to retain power, and in turn that drilling for fossil fuels off our coastlines is a significant matter of public interest that is deeply unpopular. 

“While Anthony Albanese seeks legal advice on this matter, he should put the minds of those in Northern NSW at ease by immediately recommitting opposition to PEP-11.

“It’s deeply concerning that Advent Energy and subsidiary Asset Energy have indicated they may seek to overturn the government’s decision to reject the PEP-11 project. 

“If Labor remains serious about stopping PEP-11 it should bring on and vote for the Greens’ Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Fight for Australia’s Coastline) Bill, which would stop PEP-11 beyond any doubt, and prohibit any future petroleum exploration or production in the area for good.”