Telstra 2007 Annual Report Download - page 66

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Telstra Corporation Limited and controlled entities
Corporate Governance and Board Practices
In 2006 we reviewed and refined out internal approach to compliance and from the start of the 2007 fiscal
year we moved to combine our compliance activities and the related activities supporting our corporate
ethics under a single Compliance and Corporate Ethics Framework. This framework brings together our
business units and the individual subject matter specific compliance programs in a more integrated,
consistent and collaborative way than we have in the past.
We have continued our comprehensive program based approach to compliance. This has been fundamental
to our approach to compliance for many years and this continues to be a key element of our compliance
framework with subject matter experts helping us to understand our many legal and regulatory obligations
and responsibilities and translate them into appropriate practice. The programs include health, safety and
environment, privacy, trade practices, diversity and industry regulation.
This program based approach at a corporate level is supported by a network of senior personnel appointed
to the role of Business Unit Compliance Manager. These Compliance Managers are supported by other
personnel at the business unit level with specific responsibility for the implementation of the compliance
programs within their business unit. This structure has been designed with the aim of ensuring that each
business unit's operations are conducted in accordance with our obligations in an efficient, effective and
integrated manner that reflects that business unit’s individual risk profile.
A number of programs, including the privacy compliance program, are subject to periodic, independent
external reviews which are intended to:
• ensure that our approach is comprehensive, robust and rigorous; and
• to provide an objective view of areas for further improvement.
Political and Other Donations
We do not make political donations. However, in line with other major publicly listed companies, we do pay
fees to attend events organised by political parties where those events allow for discussion on major policy
issues with key opinion leaders and policy makers.
We make donations and contribute funds to community and other organisations as part of our approach to
corporate social responsibility.
Shareholder Communications Strategy
We have implemented a number of initiatives to promote effective communication with our shareholders.
These include:
• maintaining an investor relations website;
• maintaining a corporate blogging and advocacy website – nowwearetalking.com. nowwearetalking
is designed to provide shareholders and other interested parties with information about the digital
revolution and how it can improve our quality of life in the 21st century. nowwearetalking is also
designed to increase the level of public dialogue about the future of telecommunications in Australia;
• writing directly to our shareholders twice a year about our half-year and annual financial results in
addition to providing them with a copy of the annual review;
• placing all announcements made to the market, including transcripts of investor and media briefings
and related information, on our website;
• webcasting and podcasting certain events such as briefings and our annual general meeting;
• using electronic communications to advise investors, who have provided us with their email address,
of significant matters that may be of interest to them; and
• writing directly to our shareholders on issues relating to them that affect their investment. For
example, the acquisition of Soufun.