According to Martin and Steele, ‘The two principal professional associations in Australia-CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (the Institute) have indicated their awareness of the importance of issues of sustainability reporting and development of suitable skill sets in word and indeed. The commitment of both organizations to sustainability principles has been exhibited by their adoption of and support for sustainability-focused reporting approaches and by their opting to take up membership of the Accounting for Sustainability Forum’.
Martin A and Steele F (2010) Sustainability in Key Professions: Accounting. A report made by the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability for the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
In a two-part essay:
1) Consider the above. Discuss the stance and initiatives of the Australian accounting profession on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. Give your views on the role of accounting and the accountant on CSR and sustainability.
2) Discuss the manner in which AGL has explained its social and environmental accountability in the last two years.
NOTE: The AGL has published an annual sustainability report since 2004 to communicate the sustainability performance in the areas of customers, people, community, economic, climate change and environment.