The CSIRO needs to ensure its research into coal seam gas remains independent of industry if it's to win over opponents worried about environmental and social impacts, The Australia Institute (TAI) argues in a new paper.
The report highlighted how the original research advisory committee of the CSIRO-led body – known as the Gas Industry Social & Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) – had been dominated by industry representatives and the CSIRO.
While this committee have since been split into NSW and Queensland ones, industry continues to have a significant presence that raised doubts about how arm's length the research work could be, said Matt Grudnoff, a researcher with the TAI.
"It's not just the industry is sponsoring this research," Mr Grudnoff said. "Industry also sits at the table that decides the questions, and decides what projects get funded."
"It's a no-brainer that they should get gas executives off these research committees" if the industry wanted to be accepted by communities worried about interference and possible contamination of aquifers from CSG wells, he said.
The industry also wants to convince the public that gas is cleaner than coal as part of efforts to gain "social licence", Mr Grudnoff said.
CSIRO executives will face a fresh grilling at Senate estimates on Thursday.
Emails released earlier this year revealed the nation's premier research agency was looking to shift its emphasis away from "science for science sake".
"Public good is not enough, needs to be linked to jobs and growth, but science that leads to SLO [social licence to operate] is OK," Andreas Schiller, an executive in the Oceans and Atmosphere division, said in one email.
According to CSIRO, GISERA funding totalled $13.05 million for the 2014-15 to 2016-17 years. Industry chipped in about half, or $6.65 million, with governments and CSIRO providing the rest.
"CSIRO flatly rejects the implication that its research and researchers' independence and integrity are compromised by industry funding," a CSIRO spokesman said.
GISERA had processes to ensure the research was transparent, independent and retained its integrity, and while its own newsletters indicate companies get a chance to review results before they were made public, "clear safeguards" protected the results.
"Companies do not have rights to alter, edit or respond to research reports written by CSIRO under GISERA," the spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for Federal Industry Minister Greg Hunt said governance arrangements ensured the research's impartiality.
"The government will be providing CSIRO with a new statement of expectations shortly, which will reflect the government's priorities for CSIRO for coming decades," the spokesman said.
Kim Carr, Labor's industry spokesman, said worries about GISERA's role "demonstrate the risk of the Turnbull government's push to transform the CSIRO from a well-regarded publicly funded research agency, into a glorified consultancy firm".
"Independent research relevant to the needs of Australia's industry and community has been CSIRO's hallmark," Senator Carr said. "Funding cuts to the CSIRO and other research programs place all this at risk."
Mr Grudnoff recommended research be funded by a levy on proposed or produced gas to give the public greater confidence in the results.
