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Warringah Zali Steggall lobs Bill to stop PEP 11, Mackellar MP Jason Falinski calls it ‘waste of time’

MP Zali Steggall has launched a Bill to stop a permit allowing offshore drilling for gas and oil from Newcastle to Manly. But her northern beaches counterpart says it’s a waste of time.

Warringah MP Zali Steggall has launched a Bill to cancel a controversial permit which would allow offshore gas and oil drilling off the coastline between Newcastle and her home turf of Manly.

The independent MP said her Bill has the support of high-profile surfers Layne Beachley, Tom Carroll, Ace Buchan and Belinda Baggs and Surfrider Foundation Australia.

Ms Steggall said residents are extremely concerned the drilling could cause catastrophic damage to the pristine coastline and has called on Liberal MPs to support it, after they came out and bagged her efforts.

“The coastline around PEP 11 is home to millions of Australians, whose lifestyle and livelihood relies on a healthy ocean,” Ms Steggall said.

Map showing the location of a PEP 11 off the coast between Newcastle and Manly.

“We need to stop the push for gas production off our coast. That’s why I am announcing that I’ll be introducing the Stopping PEP 11 Bill.”

“PEP 11 is the Morrison Government’s ‘gas-led recovery’ in action. It opens the door to oil and gas rigs just offshore from our iconic beaches.”

Mackellar Liberal MP Jason Falinski and Dave Sharma, the member for Wentworth, as well as NSW Senator Andrew Bragg, have all spoken out against PEP 11 and welcomed the support of Ms Steggall to end the permit.

But they said the permit is already “dead in the water” after the Prime Minister last year indicated he would not support its renewal.

They criticised Ms Steggall for launching a Bill during a “grave global crisis that is keeping our children from school, people from work, families apart, while stopping businesses from doing business”.

Northern beaches MPs, Zali Steggall, an independent and Liberal Jason Falinski are both strongly opposed to PEP 11. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Falinski said it would divert the government from “its work of resolving our present crisis”.

Furthermore, the Liberals also believe the legislative time frame is far too slow to address this issue with a Bill.

They said a motion moved in the House of Representatives by Mr Falinski has already received bipartisan support from Liberals Trent Zimmerman and Dave Sharma, plus Labor’s Emma McBride, Sharon Claydon and Pat Conroy.

However, the decision on whether to grant permission for exploration is currently sitting with the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt.

Ms Steggall responded to the comments from critical Liberals by questioning that if the

Champion surfer Layne Beachley is supporting Ms Steggall’s Bill. Photo: Supplied

Government backbenchers are so sure that the Bill is ‘dead’ then why must they continue to lobby Minister Pitt to ‘end the uncertainty’?

She also called out Mr Falinski for allowing his motion against PEP 11 to expire and not bringing it on for debate or a vote.

“It was an empty gesture,” she said.

“There is no alternate legislation or motion to stop PEP 11 before the House.

“Minister Pitt refuses to rule out extending the licence and our communities have been waiting long enough for certainty. The Stopping PEP 11 Bill will end the uncertainty once and for all.

“The issue has been alive since 1999 when the original permit was created, so I don’t believe this issue is on the precipice of being resolved.“This is another example of coalition backbenchers being completely ineffectual in standing up for their communities.”

A spokesman for Mr Falinski refused to say whether he will vote in support of the Bill if it gets that far.