Australia: Court Quashes Ex-PM's Decision to Block Offshore Gas Project

Lewis Jackson
Thursday, February 16, 2023
©BPH Energy

An Australian court on Tuesday overturned a controversial decision by the previous prime minister to block a gas exploration project off the country's east coast, opening the door for the project to be reconsidered.

The Federal Court quashed former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's move to block Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 in the Sydney Basin off the coast of New South Wales state, finding his decision may not have been impartial.

Tuesday's ruling allows the permit to be considered by the Commonwealth-New South Wales Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, reflecting an agreement reached by the project's owners and the Australian government to end the court fight earlier in February.

The project is 85% owned by Asset Energy, which is a subsidiary of BPH Energy, with the remainder owned by Bounty Oil & Gas.

Asset Energy last year contested Morrison's decision to refuse the permit on the basis he had done so in his capacity as Resources Minister, a ministerial appointment made in secret.

An independent inquiry last November found Morrison's decision to secretly appoint himself to five ministries, including resources, during the pandemic undermined trust in government.

(Reuters - Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Sonali Paul)

Categories: Energy Industry News Activity Australia/NZ Regulations

Related Stories

CIP, ACEN Partner Up for First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm in Philippines

CIP, ACEN Partner Up for First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm in Philippines

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Set for Drilling Job off Indonesia

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Set for Drilling Job off Indonesia

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Up for Drilling Job Offshore Vietnam

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Up for Drilling Job Offshore Vietnam

Turkey Discovers New Black Sea Gas Reserve

Turkey Discovers New Black Sea Gas Reserve

Indonesia's Medco Starts Production at Natuna Sea Fields

Indonesia's Medco Starts Production at Natuna Sea Fields

ADNOC’s XRG Partners Up with Petronas for Offshore Gas Block in Caspian Sea

ADNOC’s XRG Partners Up with Petronas for Offshore Gas Block in Caspian Sea

Scarborough FPU's Topsides and Hull Come Together in Major Engineering Feat (Video)

Scarborough FPU's Topsides and Hull Come Together in Major Engineering Feat (Video)

TMC Books Compressors Orders for FPSO and LNG Vessels

TMC Books Compressors Orders for FPSO and LNG Vessels

Chuditch Gas Field Up for Summer Drilling Ops as Sunda Reshapes Ownership Structure

Woodside to Shed Some Trinidad and Tobago Assets for $206M

Current News

China's Sinopec Laucnhes $690M Hydrogen Venture Capital Funds

CIP, ACEN Partner Up for First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farm in Philippines

Valeura Concludes Eight-Well Drilling Campaign in Gulf of Thailand

Three Dead in Chevron's Angolan Oil Patform Fire

BW Opal FPSO Vessel set for Work off Australia

Keyfield Ventures into Indonesia’s Oil and Gas Market with New Partner

Fire Contained at Vietnamese Oil Platform Undergoing Decommissioning (Video)

Velesto’s Jack-Up Rig Set for Drilling Job off Indonesia

Petronas, Inpex Secure Oil and Gas Exploration Rights off Indonesia

Mubadala Energy Open to Sell Andaman Gas for Domestic Use

photo

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com