An obscure mining company has accused former prime minister Scott Morrison of bias in a court case attempting to overrule a decision he made while secretly sworn in as a resources minister last year.
Last December, Morrison refused Perth-based Asset Energy’sapplication to extend a controversial permitto explore and drill for gas off the NSW coastline, in an area that stretches from Sydney’s North Head to Newcastle.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been accused of “bias” in a decision to refuse to extend an exploration permit for gas off the NSW coastline.CREDIT:ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN
In a filing to the Federal Court appealing the decision, Asset Energy, which owns 85 per cent of the permit, argued that the then “Prime Minister breached the requirements of procedural fairness in that he predetermined the application and the purported decision was infected by actual bias”.
News Corp newspapers revealed over the weekend that Morrison hadsecretly sworn himselfinto additional ministerial portfolios, including resources minister, unbeknown to the existing resources minister Keith Pitt. Pitt, who favoured further gas development, allegedly learned of this arrangement last December.
University of Sydney constitutional law expert, Anne Twomey, described having two resources ministers as “very strange”. “Going to the Governor General and saying: ‘Hey, appoint me as Minister for Resources’, but not telling the Resources Minister, and then not putting out a statement on the federal register of legislation showing that it happened, is just frankly, very, very strange.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sought legal advice over Morrison’s decision to allegedly secretly swear himself into three ministry positions.
Gas shortage
Asset Energy was exploring for gas in an area that is located no further than 50km off the NSW coast, and which is known by its title name, Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 or PEP11.
PEP11 coversan enormous area of 4574 square kilometres, and runs parallel to NSW’s pristine beaches, popular tourist destinations, past some of the country’s most expensive residential real estate, and a number of federal electorates, which until the May election were mostly blue-ribbon seats.
