Westpac Banking Corporation has published its 2007 Stakeholder Impact Report - "Tomorrow"

“Tomorrow” details Westpac’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) performance against over 110 performance indicators, covering Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

The Report features commentary by a number of prominent thought leaders on critical issues such as climate change, workplace flexibility, responsible lending and the social impact of drought. It also details how the bank is managing environmental impacts in investment and lending and through the supply chain.

Highlights for 2007 include:

Achieving further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, reducing total emissions by 45% since 1996;
Completing a review of risk policies and processes to boost the assessment of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk in line with best practice;
Launching Westpac’s third Accessibility Action Plan with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC);
Launching new Principles for Responsible Lending and Westpac Assist; and
Extending our Cape York Indigenous Enterprise Partnership (IEP) commitment to 2010 and providing $52m in community contributions over the year.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 remains the foundation framework for the Report, including the pilot G3 Finance Sector Supplement. As in previous years, both the report and Westpac’s underlying policies, systems and processes have been independently tested applying the AA1000 Assurance Standard.

Westpac was founded in 1817 and was the first company and the first bank established in Australia. Westpac is one of the major banking and financial services organisation throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region, and provide a broad range of banking and financial services in these markets. BT Financial Group has been helping Australians create and manage wealth since 1969 and has been part of the Westpac Group since 2002.

A printed copy of the report can be ordered from corporateresponsibility@westpac.com.au

More information is available at http://www.westpac.com.au/corporateresponsibility