News & Views

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has released the Terms of Reference of the major revision to the Corporate Net-Zero Standard outlining the objectives, scope, deliverables, provisional timeline, and opportunities for engagement during the standard revision process.

The SBTi has four key goals for the review of the Corporate Net-Zero Standard: 1) to align with the latest scientific thinking and best practice, such as from the IPCC and the UN Secretary General’s High Level Expert Group on the net zero emissions commitments of non-state entities (HLEG), 2) to address challenges related to scope 3 target setting and implementation, 3) to integrate continuous improvement and target delivery, and 4) to improve structure and enhance interoperability with other SBTi standards as well as other relevant external frameworks and standards.

See the new Terms of Reference HERE

In a podcast from The HR Leader, Ovice’s chief human resource officer, Megan Reed, delves into the crucial yet often disregarded world of employee wellbeing in remote working models.

The rise and fall of he pandemic has seen an immense shift in how people work and in many cases a hybrid mix of remote and office working still prevails.

Reed outlines just how imperative communication and connection are in upholding healthy work environments, especially in these hybrid work settings. The conversation also touches on the duty of care that employers have and how this doesn’t end just because you can’t see your employees. Isolation and loneliness can occur as a result of these working models, which can be mitigated through effective communication and connection.

Listen to The HR Leader podcast HERE

Diversity Council Australia (DCA) has contributed to a joint submission calling for the ASX to incorporate objectives for greater cultural and racial diversity in its corporate governance principles. Other appropriate representative organisations have called for LGBTIQA+ and disability representation, which DCA also endorses.

Specifically, the submission recommends that listed companies also disclose the cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity of their board members to ensure accountability and transparency.

See more details in the DCA press release on their website HERE

Australiasian Lawyer reports that the gender pay gap continues to persist across most positions in the legal profession, according to findings from The College of Law Australia’s Australian Legal Salary Survey 2024.

The survey showed that the average annual base salary for women fell below that of men across positions and level of experience; men reported an average base salary of $102,659 while women reported just $92,079. As per The College of Law, this suggests that gender pay inequity “is not a legacy issue”.

Read the Australasian Lawyer article HERE

The Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards is an event celebrating and awarding Australia’s top organisations for LGBTQ+ inclusion based on the results of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI).

The event, which is being held on 31 May in Sydney, is attended by CEOs, dignitaries, senior executives, HR and diversity practitioners, employee network leaders, and members of LGBTQ+ employee networks and allies, all which have made a significant impact to LGBTQ+ inclusion in their workplaces.

The Awards is regarded by many as a must-attend event on the LGBTQ+ calendar and is widely shared across corporate and personal social media platforms.

For more information about this event, or to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE 

ALPMA are hosting a seminar on 23 April to provide more information on understanding the importance of Welcome to Country and Reconciliation Action Plans.

Thane Gannaway-Garvey from Wurundjeri Woi-wurring Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, will help us genuinely understand, value and respect the importance of recognising the Welcome to Country and truth of Australia’s history. Kyle Gillan from Russell Kennedy will also discuss the importance of their Reconciliation Action Plan.

CLICK HERE to find out more and to register for this important event.

Volunteering Australia have released  "The Volunteer Management Online Project" which  will create a single, centralised gateway to a curated selection of national tools and resources that support volunteer involving organisations to recruit, train, manage and retain volunteers.

The project, funded by the Australian Government will allow organisations and individuals to connect, manage, and enhance the volunteering experience and will:

- help reduce duplication across various existing online and digital services and provide a more streamlined experience across Australia.

- assist volunteer involving organisations to increase the number and diversity of volunteers, improve attraction and retention strategies, build capability and capacity.

 - help make volunteering easier to do and manage.

Find out more about this project HERE 

In 2016, a seminal opinion written by Noel Hutley SC and Sebastian Hartford-Davis, advised that Australian company directors had a duty under the Corporations Act to consider climate-related risks or face legal consequences.

A new opinion suggests that under the Australian Corporations Act, nature-related risks are within the scope of directors’ duties to act with care and diligence.

See more about this, as well as the opinion, in an article from Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative HERE and in another article from Pollination,  a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, HERE

As reported by ESG Today, Canada has released proposed reporting standards, based on the International Sustainability Standard's Board (ISSB)  guidelines, which may form a significant step towards the introduction of mandatory climate-related reporting requirements for Canadian companies.

The goal of the proposed reporting standards is a positive move towards ensuring companies not only report their sustainability performance, but also take meaningful action.

Read the ESG Today article HERE

The NSW Government is offering up to $4,500 financial incentives for NSW buildings to receive their first-ever NABERS Energy and Water ratings, and to embed a culture of measurement improvement of energy and water performance.

To find out more about this offer, click HERE You can also attend an online ZOOM meeting (being held on March 20) which will provide additional information. CLICK HERE to register.