Prime Minister Scott Morrison has all but killed off an application to allow offshore gas exploration off the Hunter region's coast.
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Asked at a press conference at Tomago on Thursday morning whether he supported extending the licence, Mr Morrison said: "no".
Advent Energy wants to extend the permit for another five years arguing that its plans to explore and potentially drill for gas represent a "potential solution to substantial gas shortage issues".
Community opposition to the plan has swelled in recent weeks.
Last month, Mr Pitt said he recognised the level of community concern about the project.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who is also NSW Minister for Industry and Trade, told the Newcastle Herald that the state government's position had not changed since it declared it would not support applications to extend the life of PEP 11 in 2017.
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Hunter indigenous leader Uncle Bill said, given the opportunity to talk to Mr Morrison, he would "tell him I appreciate and respect him for it, but don't just talk: actions speak louder than words".
"As an indigenous person, we're very much against it. Enough damage has already happened to this country, to all the waterways and ocean."