The ABC’s Lateline program has questioned the independence of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development, set up in May by the Federal Government to provide advice on impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals on water resources, claiming it comprises members with financial links to the mining and gas industry.

 

The Lateline program stated that four of the Committee’s six members have financial links with the mining industry, primarily through funding grants to research institutes for which they work.

 

The program revealed that while conflicts of interest have been stated and minuted in committee meetings, those parts of the minutes have not been made publicly available.  It also noted that since the panel was appointed as an interim committee in January this year, it has approved all 13 projects considered, although imposing stricter environmental guidelines on some.

 

Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, said on the program that that to get the best possible scientists it was necessary to accept some that had worked in a variety of organisations.

 

“We now have a direct line of communication from an independent committee which doesn't just have independence in name, it has independence in funding. And I think that's been critically important. $150 million in additional research money is no small amount. And when you feed the outcomes of that research into a decision-making process, it can only result in better decisions.”

 

The Australian Government provided $200 million to “establish the Independent Expert Scientific Committee and assist states that are parties to the national partnership agreement to introduce the necessary reforms to seek the committee's advice when deciding on coal seam gas and coal mining applications.”

 

The full transcript of the Lateline program is available here.