Terry Collins, Coast Community News
In a landmark decision on June 18, the Federal Court dismissed Asset Energy’s application to overturn the Federal Government’s rejection of the controversial PEP 11 application.
Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP) 11 has long been a point of controversy, as it sought to pursue offshore petroleum exploration over a large expanse of the eastern coastline including the Central Coast.
After years of uncertainty over the project’s future, then Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in 2021 that he had cancelled the permit for good.
But after the 2022 election, when Labor was returned to power, it was revealed that Morrison had appointed himself to multiple Ministerial positions, and Asset Energy challenged the permit’s refusal in Federal Court. Those proceedings were suspended following an agreement between Asset Energy and the Federal Government in 2023, with the government agreeing to pay the company’s legal costs.
As a result, the matter was returned to the Commonwealth-NSW Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority for further consideration.
After nearly two years of further uncertainty, the Federal Government finally moved in January 2025 to reject the project outright, citing the public interest.
The NSW Government reinforced that stance with new legislation banning offshore oil and gas exploration in state waters.
Despite that, Asset Energy took the matter back to the Federal Court in September last year.
The June 18 decision saw the Federal Court reject Asset Energy’s application for a judicial review, dismissing all grounds of the appeal and upholding the Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority’s decision that the gas project is not in the public interest.
Founder and director of grassroots environmental and community group Save Our Coast, Dr Natasha Deen, has been campaigning against renewal of the permit for almost a decade.
“Coastal communities have stood fast and strong against the outrageous plan to blast and drill for gas off our beautiful coast and we welcome the Federal Court’s decision today,” Ms Deen said on June 18.
“Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 was always a flawed plan that risked devastating harm to the coast that we love and are deeply connected to, the coast that we depend on for our wellbeing and way of life, the coast that hosts a rich and precious biodiversity including magnificent whales and dolphins.
“To subject our precious marine creatures to harm and torment from seismic blasting, and to risk harm to our beautiful coast to drill for gas, was simply unconscionable.
“Since 2018 Save Our Coast spearheaded the campaign and collated a diverse chorus of 90,000 voices, hosting numerous events attended collectively by thousands, delivering 73,000 signatures to parliament, receiving historic multi-partisan political support, including all Federal MPs in the PEP 11 zone, including two Prime Ministers, all united in condemning the risky and dangerous project that was PEP 11.
“Now after a long journey finally we can breathe again, free from the sword of Damocles and ecocide that was PEP 11.
“For communities, for the coastal ecosystem and the creatures that call it home, for climate and for future generations, this is the only just outcome.
“For everyone who stood beside us, who joined us in tens of thousands, this result is testament to the strength of our community spirit and what we can achieve when we unite to save the places we love.”
This article appeared in Coast Community News, 25 June 2026.
