Gas drillers have failed to win over the public but with help from big lobbyists with top-level Coalition connections, they’re putting pressure on the NSW government. Calliste Weitenberg reports

As public sentiment shifts against the sector, NSW’s biggest coal seam gas companies are busier than ever safeguarding their billion dollar babies with the help of high profile and well connected lobbyists.

Together the big CSG players — Metgasco, Santos and AGL — have seven separate lobby firms working for them, more than doubling their clout behind the scenes.

Until its takeover by Santos last year, Eastern Star Gas employed an additional two firms, with the ratio of lobbyists to energy companies peaking before the end of 2011 at more than 2:1. This comes despite Premier Barry O’Farrell’s declaration that those hiring lobbyists “are wasting their money”.

The industry is employing some of the nation’s top firms including Hawker Britton, Barton Deakin, MacGregor Public Relations, Australian Public Affairs, Kreab Gavin Anderson and Statecraft.

While the exact amount being spent on these lobbyists is confidential, according to its annual reports from 2010 and 2011, Metgasco’s bill for the general category of “consultancy” more than doubled from $214,557 in 2009 to $458,297 in 2011.

More:http://newmatilda.com/2012/02/06/gasdrillers-heavy-hitters