The Minister for Industry and Science, the Honourable Ed Husic MP, will take on decision-making functions as the Responsible Commonwealth Minister regarding offshore petroleum exploration permit PEP-11 (PEP-11).

The decisions are a responsibility of the Commonwealth-New South Wales Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. As a Minister appointed to administer the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Minister Husic has the legal authority to take future decisions on PEP-11 as part of the Joint Authority.

The Australian Government has been consistent in its position that it will not provide a running commentary on PEP-11, and this remains the case.