Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch has hit back at claims by Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch that the region’s State Labor MPs are sending the wrong message to the community on environmental protection.
Crouch slammed the MPs for voting to again delay debate on an Opposition Bill which would prevent offshore drilling in NSW.
“During a parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, the Labor Government moved that standing and sessional orders be suspended, delaying debate of the Environment and Planning Minerals Legislation Amendment (Offshore Drilling and Associated Infrastructure Prohibition) Bill 2023 to 2024,” he said.
“Once again, the Labor Government and the Central Coast Labor MPs have shown their true colours when it comes to PEP 11; voting to delay debate on a Bill that would make PEP-11 dead in the water.”
The proposed renewal of the PEP 11 permit for off-shore gas exploration along the east coast of NSW, including the Central Coast, has been a point of controversy for several years, with numerous protests held in the region.
“After kicking the Bill off to a stacked Labor Environment and Planning Committee with only one coastal MP, the Liberal Member for Vaucluse, this government now wants to wait until March 2024 before debating the Bill, sending the absolute wrong message to not only our community but the proponents of PEP 11,” Crouch said.
“The Opposition was prepared to accept all the amendments recommended by the committee, however even with these amendments Labor still didn’t have the guts to debate this important Bill.”
Crouch said the community deserved answers from the Labor MPs.
“The local Labor MPs were quick to promise they would fight against PEP 11 at any cost, but it’s clear as day that they’re more interested in toeing the party line and can’t be trusted to stand up for protecting our environment,” he said.
But Tesch said all Labor MPs on the Coast stood with the community in opposing PEP 11 and that would not change.
“Sadly, we continue to see the Liberal Party playing politics instead of following proper processes,” she said.
“We have already seen what happens when Liberal governments don’t follow proper procedures, which is the reason there has been a delay in a resolution of the PEP 11 proposal.
“This Bill is another example of politics over resolution.
“On the advice of legal experts, the Committee has found that key aspects of this Bill may be constitutionally invalid or have negative unintended consequences for NSW.
“Amendments were considered, however (it was) found that these would substantially undermine the intent of the Bill.
“We will not play games with the future of PEP 11.
“We want to see this offshore mining process ended and unlike the former government, we will follow lawful process to do so.”
Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said the Labor Party refused to jeopardise the process by playing politics with the issue.
“It is important we leave this particular decision with the Federal Government because we have seen what happens when populist conservative governments get ahead of themselves,” he said.
Terry Collins
you bunch of clowns need to just give up
non you you better have any sort of GAS BBQ or GAS cook top!!!!!