NSW government to wipe out Coal Seam Gas and CSG terminology from documents

[Magda Hassan]

The sound of one hand clapping....

NSW government to wipe out Coal Seam Gas and CSG terminology from documents

Date September 16, 2013


The document says the move is designed to "improve clarity and consistency of the terms used to describe coal seam gas in departmental correspondence, communication and content". Photo: Andy Zakeli

The phrase "coal seam gas" is set to be wiped from official documents in NSW and possibly across Australia as governments come under increasing pressure over the contentious energy policy area.
A leaked briefing note prepared for NSW energy and resources minister Chris Hartcher recommends the phrase and its acronym CSG be replaced with the standard term "natural gas from coal seams".
The document says the move is designed to "improve clarity and consistency of the terms used to describe coal seam gas in departmental correspondence, communication and content".

"Government adoption of the industry's Orwellian terminology will not diminish legitimate concern": Jeremy Buckingham. Photo: Chris Lane

It says the change is a recommendation of the federal Standing Council on Energy and Resources, whose members include ministers from each state and territory and the commonwealth.
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In May the council published a National Harmonised Regulatory Framework for Natural Gas from Coal Seams which is designed to ensure "regulatory regimes are robust, consistent and transparent across all Australian jurisdictions".
"This is part of a national harmonisation initiative adopted by all governments," the NSW briefing note says.
The note recommends that references to "coal seam gas" and "CSG" be removed "where possible" in sentences on websites and in marketing material and standard responses to letters.
In internal briefing notes "natural gas from coal seams" should be used in the first reference, it advises.
However, CSG and coal seam gas are condoned on social media to track the national debate.
"Social media relies on CSG or coal seam gas references and hashtags (ie: #CSG)," the note says.
"In order to participate and track conversations it is therefore acceptable to use CSG or coal seam gas on Twitter and Facebook. CSG is also a recognised online search term and is a relevant key work for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). This will assist the public in finding government information on the issue".
A handwritten addition to the note says the government "will need to ensure same approach" is followed within two independent agencies, the Land and Water Commissioner and the Office of the Chief Scientist.
Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham accused the government of playing "cynical public relations games".
"Government adoption of the industry's Orwellian terminology will not diminish legitimate concern and the real risk posed to land and water by coal seam gas," he said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Hartcher said NSW "has adopted the reference following the Commonwealth's preference to use this terminology as part of a national harmonisation".
She said the Land and Water Commissioner and Office of the Chief Scientist "are independent agencies and free to use any terminology. The NSW government continues to use both terminologies."
The state government has announced it will introduce coal seam gas "buffer zones" around residential areas and ban activity within horse-breeding and wine-producing regions, but has yet to officially implement the policy.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-government...2tuzg.html