To understand the issues that are important to our customers and other stakeholders we check in with them regularly. We also undertake a more formal process – a materiality assessment – that guides us on the current and emerging topics that are most significant.

Our latest materiality assessment in 2020 helped to shape our sustainability framework and has guided our sustainability reporting.

As part of our materiality assessment, we researched the big sustainability issues for the telecommunications sector and for Australia. We also assessed the feedback received from our leaders, people and customers and connected with our key stakeholders, government, community partners, suppliers and others to understand the topics that were important to them.

We then reviewed these topics and prioritised them according to their significance for our business and our stakeholders.

Based on this, the topics of most importance for us to address are:

Energy, climate and the environment including:

• Infrastructure resilience and emergency response, including leveraging technology to address climate and disaster recovery
• Climate change and energy efficiency
• Effective waste management, phone recycling, repair and contribution to the circular economy
• Effective water management

Talent and People including:

• Attraction and retention
• Employee safety and well-being
• Good labour practices
• Diversity and inclusion
• Talent training, development and preparing for the future workplace

Trust and reputation including:

• Data privacy, cybersecurity, data governance and collection policy transparency
• Support community resilience and disaster response, and foster community cohesion through connectivity 
• Ethical and fair practices (competition, marketing)
• Leadership, accountability, communication and transparency
• Health and safety from use of products and services

Community impact, including:

• Promoting safe internet use, especially among less-informed and vulnerable audiences
• Partnerships, industry collaboration, and community engagement
• Education and employability

Sustainable value creation, including:

• Responsible procurement and supply chain management
• Commitment to anti-corruption and anti-bribery practices

Supply chain, including:

• Responsible procurement and supply chain management
• Commitment to anti-corruption and anti-bribery practices.

From this assessment we identified six key focus areas as part of our sustainability strategy: Climate Action, Circular Economy, Digital Enablement, Future of Work, Equity and Inclusion and Sustainable Innovation.

We have set 2025 targets under each of these areas and will continue to report back on our progress in our annual Sustainability Reports.

In addition to the formal materiality assessment process, we are committed to ongoing engagement with key stakeholders such as community partners, non-profit organisations and government agencies.  Regular and open discourse provides ongoing opportunities for our stakeholders to discuss priorities, concerns and emerging issues and for us to be able to respond in real time.