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YOUR WEEKLY INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER
EDITION #541 THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2026
Photo: Andrew Dewar
SEE PAGE 16
News
P6 It’s Seal-y Season on the Coast
Rhinos battle on
Out&About
P32
Sang Ho Bae on a breakaway attack ((Photo: Andrew Dewar)
Final rejection of PEP 11 in Federal Court In a landmark decision on June 18, the Federal Court dismissed Asset Energy’s application to overturn the Federal Government’s rejection of the controversial PEP 11 application. Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP) 11 has long been a point of controversy, as it sought to pursue offshore petroleum exploration over a large expanse of the eastern coastline including the Central Coast. After years of uncertainty over the project’s future, then Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in 2021 that he had cancelled the permit for good. But after the 2022 election, when Labor was returned to power, it was
One of Save Our Coast’s first rallies in 2019
revealed that Morrison had appointed himself to multiple Ministerial positions, and Asset Energy challenged
the permit’s refusal in Federal Court. Those proceedings were suspended following an agreement between
Asset Energy and the Federal Government in 2023, with the government agreeing to pay the company’s legal costs. As a result, the matter was returned to the Commonwealth-NSW Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority for further consideration. After nearly two years of further uncertainty, the Federal Government finally moved in January 2025 to reject the project outright, citing the public interest. The NSW Government reinforced that stance with new legislation banning offshore oil and gas exploration in state waters. Continued page 10
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02 4330 0305
www.sydneystylesbk.com.au
P19 Jazz and blues to brighten your Sunday
Sport
P30 Crusaders men triumph as women fall PUZZLES PAGE 18