Our approach
Stakeholder engagement
We seek to stay on top of emerging trends and sensitive issues through effective and regular dialogue with stakeholders. This helps us determine our hot issues of focus. We maintain multilateral and bilateral dialogue around specific issues to determine environmental, social and financial priorities.
We are also an active participant in a number of other forums, including:
- Equator Principles Review Process
- Global Reporting Initiative
- Society for Knowledge Economics
- Global Compact
- Caux Round Table.
Stakeholder Engagement Framework
Our formal stakeholder engagement framework includes internal working groups for social and environmental performance, indigenous development, disability and accessibility, employees and suppliers.
Community Consultative Council
Our Community Consultative Council is the flagship mechanism that determines our sustainability priorities and what we report on.
Political donations
Read about our approach to political donations, lobbying and public policy consultation.
Engagement protocol for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Ratings
The Group has developed an ‘Engagement Protocol for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Ratings’. The Protocol has been developed to ensure the independence, integrity and transparency of corporate responsibility and sustainability ratings of the Group’s performance. The Protocol sets out:
- The basis on which Westpac participates in such ratings; and
- What is expected from rating agencies in seeking to ensure the integrity, credibility and independence of the ratings.
The Protocol applies to the Group’s dealings with Rating Agencies who benchmark the Group’s non-financial performance based on corporate governance, workplace, reputation, social and environmental criteria.
