National GISERA’s governance model is designed to ensure the delivery of independent, quality peer reviewed and publicly available science from CSIRO researchers and other research organisations.
GISERA’s current members are Australia Pacific LNG, QGC, Santos, Origin Energy, Pangaea Resources and CSIRO. GISERA also receives funding from the Australian Government, and the Governments of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Fundamental to GISERA’s value is the trust that emanates from the independent, credible and transparent research conducted through GISERA.
GISERA has established a proven research program, governance structure and processes to ensure the independence, transparency and integrity of research undertaken that addresses the opportunities and challenges of the onshore gas industry in Australia.
The Research selection and approval process document provides an overview of the process used to explore, select and approve independent research projects undertaken as part of GISERA.
Each year an Annual research and development plan and budget is written and provided to the NRMC. This document details the following:
Read the 2019-20 Annual research & development plan and budget.
Governance structure
GISERA has established processes that ensure CSIRO independence on all research conducted under the GISERA agreement:
There are clear safeguards in the GISERA contract around CSIRO’s ability to publish independent peer reviewed scientific research. Companies do not have rights to alter, edit or respond to research reports written by CSIRO under GISERA. When companies sign-up to GISERA they agree to complete transparency of reporting under these conditions before project proposals have been approved. These are standard protocols CSIRO enters into in all of its major alliance arrangements. They ensure the national science agency’s independence.
Individuals and institutions engaged as members of GISERA or contributing to GISERA’s projects may be exposed to a range of circumstances under which they will need to identify and manage potential and real conflicts of interest.
GISERA will work with individuals and institutions to actively identify, avoid and manage conflicts of interest as part of its normal operating procedures. Where conflicts of interest are ongoing, it may be necessary for individuals or institutions to relinquish conflicting roles or remove themselves from involvement with GISERA.
If individuals and institutions engaged as members of GISERA or contributing to GISERA’s projects have interests that have, or may be seen to have, the potential to conflict with the individual’s or institutions’ work for GISERA, the individual or institution must disclose that interest to GISERA and take whatever action is required to avoid the conflict. Failure to do so may result in removal from GISERA.
Read our policy Conflict of interest (PDF, 173 KB).
The Alliance Agreement provides a robust and transparent governance framework to ensure independent research and that all research results are publicly available.
The Stakeholder Roundtable Group provides an opportunity for national institutions to discuss with CSIRO's GISERA about the social and environmental impacts and opportunities from Australia's onshore gas development.
Oversees the finance and completion of milestones of all research projects.
The majority of members of the Regional Research Advisory Committee, which oversees Queensland research, are independent community stakeholders.
The NSW Regional Research Advisory Committee reviews and approves research projects that address community concerns, issues and potential impacts of onshore gas development.
Conventional onshore gas development in South East South Australia is the focus of the research overseen by the SA Regional Research Advisory Committee.
