In 2020 fact sheets were produced by the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) for the Northern Territory Government. GISERA is a national collaboration between commonwealth, state and territory governments; CSIRO and industry, established to undertake independent research in the public interest around the social and environmental impacts of the gas industry
These fact sheets were used by CSIRO’s Community Engagement and Information Program (CEIP) as a starting point for working with the Northern Territory Government’s Aboriginal Interpreter Service to create audio scripts which were then recorded as audio files in plain English and Indigenous languages. CSIRO’s CEIP is funded by the Northern Territory Government.
Unfortunately, there was an error in one of the fact sheets not picked up in the review process. The text stated that methane is a greenhouse gas and may play a role in climate change. It should have stated that methane is a greenhouse gas and plays a role in climate change.
The audio scripts used to record files in Indigenous languages are not a direct translation of the fact sheets. The plain English version of the audio script for natural gas from shale, which has been translated into Indigenous languages, did not include this error.
The fact sheets were also published on the GISERA website. This website includes information about GISERA’s funding arrangements and governance framework that ensures the independence and integrity of all research activities.
CSIRO understands the need to ensure all information published is rigorously reviewed.
The natural gas from shale fact sheet has now been updated to correct the factual error. Details about GISERA’s governance framework and funding arrangements have also been replicated on individual fact sheets, to support the information already publicly available on the GISERA website.
Background: CSIRO and GISERA
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has for many years worked with communities, governments and industries engaged in or impacted by gas development.
In 2011 The Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) was formed. It is a national collaboration between commonwealth, state and territory governments; CSIRO and industry, established to undertake independent research in the public interest around the social and environmental impacts of the gas industry. The initial research focus was to understand onshore gas development impacts in Queensland. Research now covers New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Research projects based around the impacts of gas cover the themes of agriculture, land and infrastructure, greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, ground and surface waters, biodiversity, socio-economic issues, and land and infrastructure.
