Sustainability and Community

Communication and advocacy

We have a strong history of advocacy on climate change, initially through the Australian Business Leaders’ Roundtable (2006), the Australian Business and Climate Group (2007) and the Australian Agricultural Alliance on Climate Change (2008).

• In 2010, we became the Climate Institute's lead Partner in its Climate Partners program, which aims to promote business leadership in driving climate change and better inform policy debate.

Ongoing policy dialogue

We continue to participant in developing carbon pricing frameworks as regulatory and market policies firm up in the jurisdictions where we operate.

Contributing submissions to government and policy forums

• Updating the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme: Consultation document May 2012 (PDF 172kb)
• Auctioning Carbon Units in Australia’s Carbon Pricing Mechanism Feb 2012 (PDF 182 kb)
• Price floor for Australia's Carbon Pricing Mechanism Feb 2012 (PDF 189 kb)
  Inquiry into Australia's clean energy future September 2011 (PDF 454kb)
• Proposed architecture and implementation arrangements for carbon pricing mechanism May 2011 (PDF 193kb)
• Carbon Farming Initiative Jan 2011 (128kb)
• Enhancing the renewable energy target 2010 (47kb)
• Issue paper on Eligible units as Financial Products May 2009 (39kb)
• Submission to Department of Climate Change May 2009 (39kb)  
• See our archive of submissions.

Reporting progress

The Westpac Group seeks to be honest and upfront about our position on key issues concerning community and stakeholder groups at all times.

We regularly communicate our progress through our PACT Stakeholder updates, Monthly Carbon Updates and annually in our Annual Review and Sustainability Report.