Qantas 2009 Annual Report Download - page 43

41 Qantas Annual Report 2009
At Qantas, sustainability guides everything
we do. It means being a good corporate citizen
and operating in an ethical and responsible
way. Qantas has adopted a broader investor
definition of sustainability, which includes
embracing opportunities and managing risks
related to non-financial resources and
continuously improving performance in the
areas of safety, security, environment,
economic and social development, including
Qantas Group people, our customers and the
wider community.
Sustainability is an important part of the
Qantas Group’s Risk Management Framework
and is governed by the Board. The Corporate
Governance Statement (page 52 to 56) provides
further information on governance structures
and risk management.
Selected performance metrics can be
found on pages 152 to 154. Additional
information on sustainability related policies,
including case studies, is available at
qantas.com/annualreport.
Key Issues
The most important sustainability issues
facing the Group and its stakeholders are to:
– Uphold the highest standards of safety and
customer service in the air and on the ground
– Protect the health and welfare of Qantas
employees through a continued reduction in
injuries at work, to create work/life balance
opportunities and to encourage participation
in health and wellbeing programs
– Create and sustain a diverse and talented
workforce and be considered an ‘employer
of choice’
– Minimise environmental impacts and,
in particular, reduce the impact of climate
change through a comprehensive
environment program
– Support socioeconomic development in
Australia by encouraging business links,
supporting freight and tourism, nurturing
family ties, charitable giving and a variety
of community initiatives
Economic Contribution
In 2008/09, the Qantas Group made a direct
contribution to national export revenue
of around $5.8 billion, and to domestic and
regional tourism of around $18.6 billion.
Stakeholder Relations
Qantas engages with a large and diverse
range of stakeholders including shareholders
and other providers of capital, customers,
employees, suppliers, labour unions, national
and international regulators, industry groups,
non-governmental organisations and the
wider community.
The Australian Government is a key
stakeholder, and in July 2008 the Qantas
Group made a wide-ranging submission to
the Government’s Aviation Green Paper,
calling for flexible and forward-looking
aviation policy settings that support a
sustainable and efficient Australian aviation
industry, capable of attracting investment
to support growth, and operating on a fair
and internationally competitive footing.
The Group has actively participated in
consultations on a range of government
policy initiatives, such as proposed emissions
trading regimes in several jurisdictions,
including Australia.
Inclusion in Sustainability
Investment Indexes
Qantas was included in the following
responsible investment indexes for the first
time in 2008/09:
– Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)
Asia Pacific
– FTSE4Good Global Index and Australia
30 Index
Inclusion in these indexes demonstrates
Qantas’ performance and standards in the
area of sustainability.
Qantas seeks guidance from a range of
voluntary sustainability frameworks including
the Global Reporting Initiative G3
Sustainability Reporting Guidelines; the
United Nations Global Compact’s principles;
and the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development Guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises.
Airport Commissionaires with
specially-designed wheelchairs
help our customers with
special needs: part of our
comprehensive commitment
to social responsibility.