4. International Corporate Sustainability Barometer – Australia

Agribusiness and mining activities for which Australia is well known are not the industries of choice for contemplating a sustainability barometer. Agribusiness uses and exports much water in its products, from the driest inhabited continent on earth. Mining removes and is heavily challenged to replace biodiversity, ecosystems, and geological structures. However, the need for sustainability management using available tools is strengthened by this very focus. Value added from the Corporate Sustainability Barometer is at a premium in these circumstances. Results reveal these differences for Australia, including the stronger focus on water management. It is sad to report that Australia lags international practice in sustainability management and companies are less aware of available tools. The Barometer and its results for corporate Australia provide a foundation for stakeholders, both internal and external, to focus on promotion, training, awareness development and incentive based policy setting towards future improvement of sustainability management.