
Federal parliament has been rocked by extraordinary revelations that Scott Morrison secretly assumed control of numerous ministries, including the resources portfolio, in the last term of government. The then prime minister went further and used his new powers to knock back a gas-drilling proposal off the New South Wales coast.
The proposal is known as “Petroleum Exploration Permit 11” or PEP 11. The company behind the application, Asset Energy, had sought to renew its licence and start exploratory drilling.