Telstra Launches Corporate Community Report

Telstra invests more than $650,000 each day in activities that empower local communities, reduce social isolation, conserve resources or improve health and education, and subsidise disadvantaged consumers, according to a company report.

Telstra’s corporate responsibility report revealed the company and its subsidiaries had contributed $38.4 million to community activities during 2007/08, and provided approximately $200 million in additional benefits to low income and special needs groups.

The telecommunications giant say these contributions make it one of the largest corporate contributors to the Australian community.

Speaking at the launch of the company’s annual corporate responsibility report in Melbourne, Telstra Chief Executive Office Sol Trujillo said Telstra’s uses its expertise, infrastructure and people to strengthen the capacity of communities across the nation.

He went on to describe how:
• The Telstra Foundation had provided $3.9 million in 2007/08 to 667 projects that helped connect children and young people to their community, and $3 million over three years to a cyber safety program that teaches children how to be safe when using computers and mobile phones.

• Telstra had conserved 25,332 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2007/08 – equal to the annual green gas emissions from 1,800 average Australian households – in part through the use of 10,265 solar-powered sites throughout Australia.

• Telstra had launched a landmark report showing how telecommunications networks could reduce Australia’s carbon footprint by five per cent, and reduce costs for businesses and consumers.

• Customers throughout Australia had contacted relatives and loved ones overseas at no cost after Telstra waived charges to call Myanmar and China’s Sichuan province after serious natural disasters in the past 12 months.

Telstra says the report provides a comprehensive view of its performance against categories defined by the Global Reporting Initiative Index, an internationally recognised index.

To view a copy of the Report online, go www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/csr/crr/index.cfm