Opponents of the coal seam gas industry say the New South Wales Government has been caught out in a classic 'Yes Minister' moment, after a memo was sent recommending the term CSG or coal seam gas be dropped.

Aiden Ricketts, from CSG-Free Northern Rivers, says a briefing note from the office of Resources Minister Chris Hartcher recommends changes to the way the industry is described.

He says all agencies are being told to refer to it as 'natural gas from coal seams'.

Mr Ricketts says the memo also recommends references to coal seam gas or CSG be removed from sentences.

"I can tell you from a movement perspective, you look at something like that and go well that's a clear sign that the government and the industry are squirming under the pressure of public opposition," he said.

"But it's also sad because you know, instead of changing policy in response to public opposition they're trying to just change the terminology.

"Certainly it's got a funny side, it looked exactly like something straight out of Yes Minister to me, or maybe you know if you wanted to be a bit spookier it's a bit Orwellian too.

"But it's basically the government toeing an industry line."

The policy, according to the document, is part of a "national harmonisation initiative" that has been adopted by all governments.

The Greens' Jeremy Buckingham says the public will not be fooled.

"People aren't going to buy a rebranding of CSG to 'natural gas from coal seams'," he said.

"They understand this industry is risky, it's unsafe and they do not want it contaminating their ground water, their drinking water supplies and polluting the farm land of Australia."

A statement from the office of Chris Hartcher says the state has adopted the language because of the Commonwealth's preference for it.

The statement says the Government continues to use both terms.