About the document

This review highlights the work of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (the IESC) for the 2016–2017 financial year.

The Committee has helped strengthen the regulatory framework for the Australian and state governments by applying advances in scientific understanding to underpin regulatory decision making of coal resource developments.

Key elements of the Committee’s work in 2016-17 include:

• providing advice on development proposals in response to eight requests from the Australian, New South Wales and Queensland Government regulators; 
• providing advice to the Australian Government on the delivery of the bioregional assessments and other priority research, including a review of the Committee’s research priorities; and
• increasing engagement with governments, industry and community groups to improve understanding of the Committee’s role and seek feedback on its operation