Big Bill? Who knew!

Big bill for Metgasco drill ban
Mark Coultan

• THE AUSTRALIAN
• JUNE 12, 2015 12:00AM

The NSW government suspended the drilling activities of a gas company without legal advice, a decision now set to cost the state tens of millions of dollars.

And the decision to stop Metgasco drilling near Lismore on the NSW north coast did not go to cabinet.

The NSW government is now negotiating with Metgasco about compensation or buying out the rights after the government decided not to appeal against a court judgment which overturned its decision.

A spokesman for Resources and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts said his department had taken the decision based on its own internal advice.

Buying out Metgasco’s interest could be expensive, as it has spent $120 million exploring for gas on the north coast.

Its shares plummeted by 40 per cent after the suspension and it wrote down the value of its assets by $81m following the government suspension. Its market capitalisation is now $29m.
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So ... According to the article ... The unlawful suspension of Rosella did not came from the Cabinet. While I don't know the processes for such or whether it has to come from the Cabinet or not. What I can see is that the Cabinet itself is drawing itself away from the mud that the Resource Minister himself has created.

Oh Mr Roberts are you on your own now?

Also, the internal advice that the department has based upon ... Damn... couldn't even get OCSG director to come to the Supreme Court. Unless he meant ... Alan Jones gave the advice?

While during NSW Nats Conference this weekend, Deputy PM Warren Truss slammed down Deputy Premier Troy Grant and certain NR MPs on wanting to ban gas production in NR.

Goodness, someone with a spine here!