Human Rights

Our second Human Rights Working Group meeting for 2021 included a special presentation on forced labour by Dr. Kevin Franklin, Chief Operating Officer, Advisory and Chief Product Officer at Elevate Limited. Dr. Franklin is a responsible sourcing expert based in Hong Kong. This presentation explores how technology and regulations are driving an accelerated paradigm shift. Investors interested in learning five due diligence activities will find this presentation useful. We are working on an updated version of our widely used Investor Toolkit: Human rights with a focus on supply chains.

Our second FNPRWG meeting for 2021 included by Tony Bevan, a non-member Director of Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC). WGAC is the first Native Title holder to develop and launch its own ESG scorecard for mining companies. This meeting also included a presentation by Ju-Lin, Senior Policy Advisor, National Native Title Council, regarding the WA cultural Heritage Bill.

Modern slavery and human rights showed increased dominance in environmental, social and governance (ESG) research aimed at informing and driving more responsible investment in Australia over the last year, following the far-reaching local and global impacts of COVID-19. At the 11th Annual ESG Research Australia Awards held today at the RI Australia 2021 conference from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), Citi, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse took out awards for excellence in ESG research by a broker. An additional award from RIAA was also presented to the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility for new ESG research by a non-broker. The winners of this year’s ESG Research Australia Awards are: Best Piece of New ESG Research: Nothing to lose but chains – A modern take on slavery for investors, by Zoe Whitton and Edward McKinnon, Citi • Best Piece of Ongoing ESG Research: CEO incentives and analyst expectations, by Sameer Chopra et al., Bank of America Merrill Lynch • Best ESG Broking Firm: Credit Suisse The winner of RIAA’s ESG Research Award recognising excellence in investor relevant ESG research by a non-broking firm is: Best Piece of Investor Relevant ESG Research (non-broking firm): Modern slavery and human rights showed increased dominance in environmental, social and governance (ESG) research aimed at informing and driving more responsible investment in Australia over the last year, following the far-reaching local and global impacts of COVID-19. At the 11th Annual ESG Research Australia Awards held today at the RI Australia 2021 conference from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), Citi, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse took out awards for excellence in ESG research by a broker. An additional award from RIAA was also presented to the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility for new ESG research by a non-broker. The winners of this year’s ESG Research Australia Awards are: Best Piece of New ESG Research: Nothing to lose but chains – A modern take on slavery for investors, by Zoe Whitton and Edward McKinnon, Citi • Best Piece of Ongoing ESG Research: CEO incentives and analyst expectations, by Sameer Chopra et al., Bank of America Merrill Lynch • Best ESG Broking Firm: Credit Suisse The winner of RIAA’s ESG Research Award recognising excellence in investor relevant ESG research by a non-broking firm is: Best Piece of Investor Relevant ESG Research (non-broking firm): Labour Hire & Contracting Across the ASX100, by Dr Katie Hepworth, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility

The first meeting of 2021 included a special presentation by James Fitzgerald, Strategy Lead, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) who spoke to the working group about the Juukan Gorge Senate Inquiry interim report recommendations which were published in December 2020. Investors and members are encouraged to read through the recommendations to gain insight into what measures they can push advocate for.

The first meeting of the FNPRWG included an overview of Dhawura Ngilan, a framework that seeks to address the inadequacy of heritage protection legislative framework in Australia

Report backs from subgroups.

Presentation by Simon Carter and Ruben Langbroek, Sustainable Digitalisation Project (SDP), including Investment Indicators initiative.

What is gender lens investing and why is it important to the investment community? How is gender lens investing relevant to our COVID-19 response and recovery?

Presentation by Jennifer Burn, Professor of Law at the University of Technology Sydney and NSW Interim Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and Dr. Yvette Selim, Interim Deputy Director at Anti-Slavery Australia.

Topical issues of plastics and water scarcity, along with continued strong interest in climate change are among the key issues being researched within the finance industry to inform and drive more responsible investment in Australia. At the 10th Annual ESG Research Australia Awards, Citi, Macquarie and Credit Suisse took out awards for excellence in ESG research by a broker. An additional award from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) was also presented to Ausbil Investment Management and the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors for new ESG research by a non-broker. COVID-19 presents the greatest of challenges to investors, and early signs are that many responsible investment funds and companies are holding up better than their peers. Investors rely on robust and rigorous ESG research and data to help navigate turbulent times, which is why RIAA is pleased to recognise the leaders in this important research. The ESG RA Awards, attended by Australia’s leading superannuation funds, fund managers and broking firms, recognise excellence in environmental, social and governance (ESG) research published by broking firms. The winners of this year’s ESG Research Australia Awards are: Best Piece of New ESG Research: 2 degree or not 2 degree: The ins and outs of scenario analysis in real life, by Zoe Whitton and Edward McKinnon, Citi • Best Piece of Ongoing ESG Research: Macquarie’s 2019 ESG Ratings Survey, by Anita Stanley and Linda Carlanita, Macquarie • Best ESG Broking Firm: Credit Suisse The winner of RIAA’s ESG Research Award recognising excellence in investor relevant ESG research by a non-broking firm is: • Best Piece of Investor Relevant ESG Research (non-broking firm): Modern Slavery Reporting – guide for investors, by Mans Carlsson-Sweeny, Ausbil Investment Management and Kate Griffiths and Ian McIlwraith, Australian Council of Superannuation Investors. The Guide was an initiative of ACSI and RIAA’s Human Rights Working Group.