Like RA, I too am interested in what reasons the JA could use to lawfully deny the extension. There are two main reasons why I doubt this can occur:-
1. When handing down their recommendation in March 2020, NOPTA only provided a draft approval letter for the JA members to sign, they did not consider it merited a declining the application option. NOPTA are the experts on OPGGS legislation and IMO their view carries the most weight.
2. If Keith Pitt felt he had the ability to lawfully decline the application, I believe he would have taken that option (even if slightly reluctantly). From February 2021 to December 2021, Keith went through slanging matches with Scomo and his staff, slanging matches with McCormack, considered resigning, got sacked from Cabinet, and was the target of online abuse from the public, all because of PEP11. I truly believe that if Keith Pitt could have reached for the parachute, he would have. He publicly stated that he believed declining the application would expose the Government to a huge compensation claim. Even after the whole secret Ministries sham was exposed, Keith Pitt steadfastly stated that had no part in the shenanigans, and that was why he refused to put his name to the decline letter.
So, if you, or anybody else, has a theory on how the JA could lawfully decline it, I am all ears.
JMO. DYOR.
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