Telstra Releases First CSR Report

Telstra has released its first corporate social responsibility report analysing its impact, performance and future commitments to the community, environment, economy and industry.

Telstra says while its has a long history of contributing to the Australian community for the first time many of its existing and new programs and activities that involve the community, environment, economy and industry have been drawn together for greater transparency of reporting.

Telstra CEO Dr Ziggy Switkowski says the report shows the great work being done by Telstra people that is directed at making the company and society a better place.

Switkowski says as they develop a greater understanding and sophistication around the CSR approach, reporting will also change and become more comprehensive.

The report provides specific performance figures around Telstra’s philanthropic entity, the Telstra Foundation, the company’s contribution during natural disasters, its environment policy, concessionary packages for low income Australians and its various research and industry development programs.

Telstra says corporations currently produce annual reports that go beyond compliance and encompass sustainability issues referred to as Triple Bottom Line, Corporate Citizenship, Social Accountability or Corporate Social Responsibility reports.

It says Telstra favours an integrated approach to corporate citizenship and thinks of it not as a project, but as what it does and how it does it. As with many companies, many aspects of sustainability are already embedded or under way within the organisation.