Environmental, Social and Governance Policy



Effective Date: 27 February 2023 | Next Review Date: 27 February 2024

 

1. Purpose of Policy

At Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) we are committed to leaving the world a better place consistent with our owner the Hands Family Office.  This policy exists to inform the attitudes and activities that CPC expects from its team to ensure environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and effective corporate governance.

2. Policy Statement

At CPC, our goal is to embed our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach in our operational activities.  We believe in an integrated approach to ESG that supports our corporate strategy.  By engaging with our stakeholders including the CPC team, our owner, customers and suppliers, we can do our part to improve sustainability, better support our community and simultaneously deliver strong operational performance.  We believe that well governed social, environmental, and financial systems can enhance sustainable, long-term operations.  

3. Scope

This policy applies to all Employees, Directors, Contractors, and Visitors.

4. Procedure

Environmental

At CPC, we are dedicated to the welfare and sustainable management of our environment. Our people understand that the health of our land and its ecosystems is fundamental to ensuring successful agri-food production, both now and into the future.  We celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of our land and environment.  Our rangeland management team supports employees at all levels to deliver on our environmental and sustainability goals.

  • CPC is committed to reducing our emissions.  Our completion of an emissions baseline assessment provides a greater understanding of current emissions.  CPC continues to explore opportunities for emissions reductions from our herd and our operations, and for opportunities to sequester carbon in the landscape. We continue to review operations to enable adoption of practices that assist us to transition to renewable energy and clean technologies.
  • CPC strives towards ever-more efficient use of our natural resources. We work with industry bodies to develop best management practices for beef, goat and crop production. CPC continually reviews and improves its genetic programs, management strategies, technology, and infrastructure to reduce production inputs.
  • CPC regularly monitors and records the condition of our pastures, crops, and soils. CPC employs dedicated rangeland employees and contractors to support the development, delivery, and review of station environmental plans; to undertake technical aspects such as rangeland monitoring and to keep the company up to date with best practice natural resource management. 
  • CPC is committed to maintaining the biodiversity on our land. We will undertake actions to measure, monitor and report on our conservation impact. We identify key habitat areas and manage them to support key species. 
  • CPC is active in the prevention and control of wildfires. We work closely with our neighbours and regional fire departments to ensure fire management is consistent across the landscape. CPC also carries out mosaic burning to ensure the environmental benefits of traditional fire management are ongoing on our properties.
  • CPC believes that ‘environment’ goes beyond flora, fauna, water, soil and air quality. Equally important are community health and heritage. We protect features of cultural and heritage importance on our land and provide access for local communities to carry out traditional land use practices, in accordance with local legislation and our Native Title commitments.
  • In alignment with our core values, CPC fosters an ethos of care for the environment within the company through leadership, training, and community involvement. CPC includes environmental measures in our operational reporting to ensure we are meeting our federal, state and territory legislative requirements at all times.

Social

At CPC, our people are our greatest asset, we place their safety and wellness as a top priority. Our culture consists of respect, empathy and an inclusive work environment that provides the proper training and career opportunities so that our people can be successful.  We recognise the importance of sustainable local communities and strive to build long-term relationships with the communities where we live.

  • CPC is committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our people. We are committed to ensuring a process is in place that provides a safe system of work for all CPC Employees, Contractors, and Visitors. We employ a fulltime WHS Manager to provide support and coaching.  We implement wellness initiatives and programs and provide an Employee Assistance Program for all employees and their families.
  • At CPC we are strongly committed to excellent employment practices, which include employee development, engagement, and retention.  We are dedicated to enhancing leadership and communication within CPC and provide a suitable training program to support all of our team.
  • CPC is committed to operating responsibly and upholding fundamental human rights and recognises the need to identify and assess modern slavery risks within business operations and the supply chain.
  • CPC promotes diversity, is committed to providing an inclusive workplace and strives to ensure that employment decisions are based on individual competency and ability. We expect all members of the CPC team to help create and maintain this environment. We seek to maintain a positive workplace, free from discrimination and harassment.
  • The welfare of our Animals is of paramount importance to CPC and our people. The good care of our Animals is core to what we do as individuals and a business.
  • Biosecurity management and training are key areas of focus.  We maintain biosecurity plans for all properties, complete annual audits through Livestock Production Assurance On-Farm Quality Assurance (LPAQA) and ensure our employees receive appropriate training.
  • Community connection, with a focus on Traditional Owners. We intend to further improve our social impact across CPC and with the communities where we work and live.
  • CPC actively engages in industry representation supporting and strengthening our industry and community. Members of the CPC team are active participants in several external committees and industry organisations.
  • CPC implements practices to provide data security and privacy of information within the business. We are on a cycle of continuous review and improvement to protect business data, our employee, customer, and supplier data.

Governance

At CPC, robust governance, ethical business practices and sensible risk management support our long-term strategy and drive corporate sustainability. This includes a sound approach to corporate governance that complies with all applicable regulations, laws, rules, and policies, firmly centred around adherence to CPC values.  

  • Principles of Corporate Governance assist the Board in its responsibilities and promote the effective functioning of the Board and its committees. The Board assures the integrity, strength, and direction of CPC for the employees, customers, shareholders, and the communities in which it operates.
  • CPC Code of Conduct outlines the minimum standards and behaviours required of all CPC Employees, Contractors, Directors, and anyone working with, or representing CPC.
  • The CPC Risk Management Framework includes the procedures, monitoring and reporting requirements for the management of risks within CPC and articulates how CPC integrates risk management practices into all business processes and operations to drive consistent, effective, and accountable action, decision making and management practice.
  • The Delegated Financial Authority details the level of authorisation required for incurring financial commitments and expenditure on behalf of CPC. These delegations ensure that CPC employees are provided with an appropriate level of financial authority for their role. It is the responsibility of each individual with delegated authority ensure that all policies and procedures are followed.
  • CPC is committed to the prevention, deterrence and detection of bribery and corruption. CPC strives to conduct its business in an ethical, honest, and transparent manner. Bribery and corruption are not consistent with CPC’s values and present significant risks to its business.
  • CPC suite of policies, procedures, and guidelines along with our audit processes including financial and safety audits, form the framework for setting operating standards and compliance.
  • CPC will be transparent and accountable in our actions. 

 

4.1 Key Goals

The business goals and actions identified by CPC address twelve of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Environmental

  • Meet or exceed our legal and statutory obligations under the relevant Federal, State and Territory legislation
  • Maintain or improve the condition of our resources, soil, land, and water
  • Continue to increase use of renewable energy and clean technology
  • Improve waste management within operations
  • Implement sustainable rangelands management to protect biodiversity and areas of high conservation value.
  • Reduce the impact of weeds, fire, and feral animals on our resources
  • Provide training and support for all employees to better understand our natural resources and contribute to management of the environment
  • Engage with the community and work together to achieve good environmental outcomes as well as social ones

Social

  • Reduce the occurrence of workplace incidents
  • Deliver wellness programs to all CPC employees
  • Meet or exceed our legal and statutory obligations under the relevant State and Territory legislation
  • Provide training and awareness on inclusion and diversity for all employees
  • Be fair in our pay and rewards policies
  • Have a positive impact on, and increase engagement in the communities in which we operate
  • Continue to train our employees in biosecurity, disease awareness and reporting requirements
  • Work with our team at CPC, our customers, and suppliers to understand and minimise the risk of modern slavery
  • 100% use of pain relief for all aversive animal husbandry practices
  • Review and improve data security processes

Governance

  • Annual review of board effectiveness
  • Maintain an attitude of continuous improvement for all policies, procedures, guidelines, and frameworks
  • Annual training and refresher for employees on anti-bribery and corruption.
  • Be transparent in our ESG reporting and hold ourselves accountable on our ESG commitments by providing an annual ESG report
  • Further embed risk management into day-to-day operations

We will pursue a program of continuous improvement by reviewing annually our ESG Policy and related objectives, targets, and practices to make sure they continue to reflect our vision and commitments.

Definitions

Animals refers to cattle, horses, goats, sheep, donkeys and working dogs under the care of CPC people.

Contractor refers to an individual, a company or other entity which is engaged to provide materials and/or labour to perform a service for CPC, including any employee of a sub-contractor to such an individual, company or other entity.

CPC means Consolidated Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (ABN 22 010 080 654).

Director is a director or officer of CPC, or any associated entity of CPC.

Employee refers to an employee of CPC, his or her partner or family members living on the station at any time.

Executive Management refers to the executive team including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Development Officer, General Manager Corporate Strategy and Commercial, General Manager Stations and other persons as added from time to time.

Sustainable Development Goals refers to 17 goals defined by United Nations as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects for everyone, everywhere by 2030. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Visitor refers to a person visiting a CPC premises.