BPH - news, views, and questions, page-2069

This is what Geoff Black had to say in today's Letters to the Editor in the Newcastle Herald. Given he doesn't even get the name of the company right, I'm not too sure how reliable the rest of his assertions are.

PS: Please don't shoot the messenger!


https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7464515/compassionate-premier-is-what-nsw-needs/

Election behind PEP-11 delay

NEWCASTLE federal MP Sharon Claydon is critical of Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP-11) ("PEP-11 about politics, not public interest, Opinion, 9/10).

Under this proposal, Advent Equity, an international company, would explore for undersea oil and gas between Port Kembla and Newcastle. If undersea oil or gas was discovered, and the field was approved for exploitation, we would have off-shore oil or gas rigs off our beaches. Oil or gas tankers would be filled and sail between the rigs and an onshore terminal. Apart from the eyesore of oil or gas rigs off our beaches, there would be a real danger of an oil spill - as is occurring right now along the coast of California.

Claydon accuses federal Resources Minister Keith Pitt of playing politics on the proposal. Some of Pitt's Coalition colleagues want the proposal to go ahead, but many think that an approval would be electoral poison. Apart from the risk of environmental disaster, the world is switching away from fossil fuels. So, rejecting the proposal is a no-brainer.

So why is Pitt delaying his rejection of the proposal? Could it be that his decision has been delayed because he is awaiting a final decision by PM Scott Morrison? Morrison himself wants to own and time the rejection decision leading up to the 2022 election in order to achieve maximum votes for the Coalition.

Geoff Black, Caves Beach