LAURA TINGLE: In the last couple of days you've refused approval for petroleum exploration in the so called Pep-11 petroleum field off the coast of Sydney. Why did you do that? And doesn't the decision look odd in economic terms at least given the field is adjacent to the biggest gas market in Australia where supplies are running short.
ED HUSIC: Ok, well, I. So, a number of things. One is I'll obviously be careful about my remarks, if you don't mind, just simply because the firm in question has indicated they might appeal. This has been a long-running issue. I've sought to undertake the assessment of the application by the firm involved in a methodical way. We've given them ample opportunity. We flagged an initial position back in September, worked, submitted that, made it known publicly. We were doing that, worked with them in terms of assessing the information they put through and came to a final decision. And I indicated, for example, public interest was a particular issue that weighed in the decision making process. It has been a, I think it's fair to say, a matter of widespread commentary, particularly on the East Coast. So, we do need to make sure that we get the balance right. We recognise that there's a role for gas, as I said earlier in our discussion in the transition, it will have a role to play. And I as an industry Minister, recognise that particularly firms rely on gas, they will have to rely on gas as feedstock, particularly in plastics and cement. But all these activities depend on social licence as well.
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