The CSIRO is being accused of failing to disclose that fracking information sheets for Indigenous communities were written by one of its research divisions partially funded by gas companies.
Information included a statement that methane "may play a role" in climate change, which independent Senator David Pocock said was "straight out of the fossil fuel industry misinformation guide".
A moratorium on fracking in the Northern Territory was lifted in 2018 and, since then, information about the extraction process has been distributed to affected Aboriginal communities.
That information was included in a series of documents with the peak science agency’s logo on top, and translated by the Northern Territory government’s Aboriginal Interpreter Service into audio files in traditional languages.
However, a search of data embedded in the online versions of the information sheets showed they were drafted by a section of the CSIRO, called the Gas Industry Social and Environment Alliance (GISERA).
Inquiry recommended 'independent' fracking information
GISERA receives one third of its funding from gas companies, including Santos and Origin Energy, with the remainder sourced from governments and the CSIRO itself.
While the GISERA website discloses its funding sources, the information sheets make no reference to the alliance.
Senator Pocock told the ABC he would raise the issue in senate estimates.
"The CSIRO is basically pimping themselves out to the gas industry," he said.
Senator Pocock said the issue was part of a wider debate the country needed to consider.
"Should we be allowing fossil fuel companies to use the extraordinary profits that they're making … to fund sponsorships, to use that money to influence politics?
"And, in this instance, to influence our peak science body, which we should be able to have full trust in the work that they're doing."
The fact sheets were developed as part of the Northern Territory government's commitment to adopt all 135 recommendations of an independent inquiry into fracking in 2018.
One of those recommendations stated that "an independent, third-party" develops "trusted and accurate information" for Indigenous communities, whose land lies over gas deposits.
CSIRO stands by independence of documents
The CSIRO confirmed the documents were prepared by GISERA but said the research division had "strict governance arrangements to ensure the independence and integrity" of all its work.
Senator Pocock said he was concerned about language used in one of the documents, relating to a sentence which, until earlier this month, stated that methane "may play a role" in climate change.
"To see that language on a CSIRO letterhead is really disappointing and troubling,” Pocock said.
“[I’m] very concerned, if this is the kind of independent third-party information that First Nations communities are receiving, we've got to seriously look into this and rethink how this is being done.”
Methane comment an 'error' not picked up in review
In a response to questions, the CSIRO said the sentence about methane was "an error not picked up in the review process" and was rectified on October 11 this year.
"It should have stated that methane is a greenhouse gas and plays a role in climate change," a spokesperson said.
The CSIRO also said the audio files were not translated word-for-word from the information sheets.
Instead, the information sheets were first adapted into a "plain English" version, before being translated into First Nations languages.
In relation to the document in question, the CSIRO said the "plain English" version stated: "Methane gas is a greenhouse gas. Like carbon dioxide. It can make the earth too warm. This is what they call climate change."
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association — which represents the gas industry — told the ABC it was not involved in the scripting or production of the information sheets.
The Northern Territory government told the ABC that, since 2021, information about fracking has been delivered through the CSIRO's Darwin Branch and not through Brisbane-based GISERA.
'Renting out the CSIRO brand'
The details about GISERA's involvement in the information sheets comes as companies ramp-up exploratory drilling in the Beetaloo Basin, about 500 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
Marion Scrymgour, the Labor Member for Lingiari — a federal seat that covers the Beetaloo Basin — said information given to Indigenous communities should not have any links back to the fracking sector.
"I do not support the gas industry influencing information that will help traditional owners and Native Title holders make informed decisions about their country," Ms Scrymgour told the ABC.
She said she was notified of the information sheet "error" earlier this month.
"This did concern me, and I raised this with the Minister for Science Ed Husic. It was great to see this quickly rectified," Ms Scrymgour said.
Earlier this month, Mr Husic voiced his own concerns about gas companies trying to use the CSIRO to support their claims of reducing their impacts on the climate.
"I do wonder why we need to have gas firms renting out the brand — [for] CSIRO to do decarbonisation work — that I'm sure they could get a lot of others to do."
