Minister slams 'unscientific' report on gas leak
20/11/2012
Energy and Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has accused researchers who identified a massive coal-seam gas leak in Queensland of a cynical attempt to grab headlines.
Speaking at an energy conference in Sydney, Mr Ferguson said he believed the study by Southern Cross University researchers Isaac Santos and Damien Maher, which found that masses of methane and carbon dioxide were leaking undetected from Australia's biggest coal-seam gas field, abandoned usual scientific practice.
He criticised the study's public release, before it had been peer-reviewed, saying that in "the scientific community that is not regarded favourably".
"Let's have a factual, scientific debate, not an emotional debate, because there is too much at risk and the community expects that approach to life," Mr Ferguson said.
"Conduct yourself in a professional way and focus on the outcome, not short-lived media opportunities."
The research was outlined in a submission to a federal climate change department investigation into the greenhouse gas emissions from coal-seam gas drilling. The department had called for public submissions.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/minister-slams-unscientific-report-on-gas-leak-20121120-29nj5.html
Photo: An Argentine scientist attaches a gas collector on a cow, which measures the amount of Methane produced from cattle. Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2274995/Cow-farts-collected-in-plastic-tank-for-global-warming-study.html
Kudos for SCU for starting this debate in Australia and for gathering some actual data.
ReplyDeleteThe reaction by industry and government to this preliminary study is very telling. Immediate denial.
Can you point me to the data that they base this denial on?
I didn't think so.
Industry has not done any serious testing of fugitive emissions in Australia. Their figures are "estimates". For good reason - they know that the economic viability of this industry would be changed unfavourably under the carbon price regime.
Fugitive emissions are the elephant in the room for CSG.
Alex, so I'm still waiting on the "secret data" from SCU. Nothing yet so far, why all the secrecy?
DeleteNo peer review and all that secret data other than a three-page funding submission, can't back themselves up if this is the case.
Also on a lesser important fact. Dr. Santo was quick to appear on The Alan Jones Show on Sydney's 2UE with Drew Hutton. When a Lock the Gate organiser from Tweed rejected Alan Jone to appear in a protest, this looked quite fishy, don't you think?
It's all about processes.
ReplyDeleteReleasing preliminary data on a 3-page funding proposal without been scrutinised or reviewed is acceptable?
Why is it the Greens, ABC, Lock the Gate and associates all ready to pounce on the day of presentation, if the scientists know that they are dealing with is a very sensitive issue?
Martin Ferguson said that he hasn't read about the research. Well he's correct in a sense that the research has not being peer-reviewed nor published!
No one would dispute that science should be paramount in this debate, but as I see it, it was all about media attention last week; worked up emotionally by the same groups of people mentioned previously.