Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
NSW government met gas industry group before reopening far-west exploration
New South Wales has reopened applications for gas exploration in the far-west Bancannia and Pondie Range areas, lifting a freeze that began in 2014.
Documents released after a freedom of information request show a February meeting with Australian Energy Producers, the oil and gas industry’s peak body, before the April decision.
The records produced in response did not show other stakeholder meetings before that announcement.
The government also contacted industry, union and business groups shortly before the announcement to seek statements supporting it, and wrote to some other stakeholders on announcement day.
Lock the Gate said the industry had gained preferential access, while a spokesperson for the natural resources minister said the government consulted more than a dozen groups as it prepared its gas policy.
The areas include parts of land covered by a successful 2015 native title claim by the Barkandji Native Title group.
The government’s latest gas statement reaffirms its commitment to exploration approvals in the far west and at Narrabri, while ruling out opening other new areas for exploration.
Documents released under freedom of information laws show the NSW government met Australian Energy Producers before reopening gas exploration approvals in the far west.
The meeting took place in February, before Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos announced in April that applications would open for two areas.
The areas are the Bancannia and Pondie Range troughs, where new gas exploration approvals had been frozen since 2014.
Lock the Gate said the documents showed the gas industry lobby had preferential access to the policy process.
The government said it had consulted more than a dozen stakeholders, including environmental groups, unions, landholders and First Nations groups.
- Who
- The NSW government, including Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos, and Australian Energy Producers.
- What
- The government reopened applications for gas exploration in two far-west areas. Documents show the industry group was the only stakeholder with a recorded meeting before the decision.
- When
- The meeting was in February; the announcement was in April.
- Where
- The Bancannia and Pondie Range troughs in far-west New South Wales.
- Why
- The government said gas would continue to play an important role in electricity generation and help firm the grid when solar and wind output is low.
NSW government
Lock the Gate
Consultation
NSW government
The government said it had engaged in genuine consultation with more than a dozen stakeholders.
Lock the Gate
Lock the Gate said the documents showed the gas industry lobby had preferential access to development of the policy.
Exploration decision
NSW government
The government reaffirmed its commitment to approvals in the far west and said gas would help firm the electricity grid.
Lock the Gate
Lock the Gate’s spokesperson called the decision a backflip that blindsided communities, including the Barkandji Native Title group.
We now know that the gas lobby was inside the tent from the beginning,
We have been clear that gas will continue to play an important role in electricity generation, firming the grid during infrequent periods when solar and wind output is low.
gas was “not a transition fuel, it’s just another fossil fuel”.
A freeze on new gas licences in NSW began.
The former Coalition government’s gas industry statement ruled out new gas exploration in the far west after public consultation.
The NSW government met with Australian Energy Producers, according to records released under freedom of information laws.
Houssos announced applications would open for gas exploration in the Bancannia and Pondie Range troughs.
- Meeting
- Australian Energy Producers was the only stakeholder with a recorded meeting before the decision
- Areas
- Bancannia and Pondie Range troughs
- Location
- Far-west New South Wales
- Previous freeze
- New gas licences had been frozen since 2014
- Native title area
- The Barkandji Native Title group’s 128,000 sq km claim includes parts of both troughs
Sources
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