Corporate Strategy

Capturing the upside potential of Australia's carbon market

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 9 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
While the Australian carbon market is still inhibited by political uncertainties, businesses are beginning to plan for a longer term future where buying and selling carbon units and permits is a part of their strategy.

Ernst & Young: go beyond carbon price implementation

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 9 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
Companies should be assessing the full range of strategic options of response to the carbon pricing mechanism, and not doing so is as risky as doing nothing at all, according to a new Ernst & Young report.

Commonwealth Bank reports increased customer satisfaction

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 7 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported an increase in retail customer satisfaction of 79%, a 4% jump from last year, as well as increases in gender diversity and community program funding in its most recent sustainability report.

Sustainable development and Australia in the Asian Century

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
The recently published Australia in the Asian Century white paper is a roadmap detailing how Australia should navigate the opportunities and challenges of the rising wealth and development of the Asian region. Sustainable development is an implicit and ...

OECD criticises low enforcement of foreign bribery law

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 2 NOV 2012  |  NEWS
The Australian government is making foreign bribery offences a priority, but enforcement of its foreign bribery laws has been "extremely low", according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Australian infrastructure underprepared for climate change

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 31 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
Australia's infrastructure is not equipped to handle more frequent, extreme weather events and other impacts of climate change, with the electricity, road and rail and financial services sector underprepared, according to a report from The Climate Institute.

CDP: increased water risk awareness, lagging board response

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 26 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
More companies globally are reporting awareness of the risks of water-related issues to the Carbon Disclosure Report (CDP), but there has been no change in number of companies with board-level oversight of water strategies.

Wesfarmers publishes 2012 sustainability report

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 26 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
Wesfarmers reported decreases in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and a fall in lost time injury frequency rate, as well as increases in water consumption and declines in community contributions in its 2012 sustainability report.

RepuTex-ESG offering free ESG data on Asian companies

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 26 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
RepuTex-ESG, a Hong Kong-based research firm, has launched a platform providing free environmental, social and governance data on Asian companies.

Operational changes needed to strengthen AGM voting: ACSI

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 19 OCT 2012  |  NEWS
Participants in the Australian institutional proxy voting system need to reform operational processes to prevent potential errors, according to a study released today by the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI).