Albanese government issues ‘preliminary refusal’ of Pep11 gas project previously vetoed by Scott Morrison

Asset Energy has 30 days to respond to industry minister Ed Husic’s request for further information about the proposed gas project off Sydney’s coast

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The industry minister, Ed Husic, has issued a preliminary refusal of the contentious Pep11 offshore gas project proposed for the New South Wales coast, a month before the federal government was due to file its court defence in a legal action designed to force it to make a decision.

Husic issued a short statement on Wednesday, saying he had “carefully considered” all material that proponents Asset Energy Pty Ltd had provided and “formed a preliminary view that the applications should be refused”.

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