Morrison’s decision to cancel the Pep-11 permit to explore for gas off the New South Wales coast, helping to settle a federal court case brought by Asset Energy that challenged the validity of the appointments.
But on 23 January in an amended application, provided to Guardian Australia by the court, CEU22 added a new ground: that Andrews “did not have the power to make the decision” because on 6 May 2021 the governor general appointed Morrison as minister for home affairs. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
The solicitor general’s advice casts doubt on that argument, by finding the governor general can “appoint an existing minister of state, including the prime minister, to administer an additional department of state … without it being necessary to direct that person to hold a different or additional ‘office’”.