Corporate Watch Australia -

Update: ACCC to crack down on greenwashing

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:08:12 -0600

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) plans to investigate environmentally friendly marketing claims receiving complaints about the widespread "greenwashing" of consumer and industrial products.

The investigation was triggered by a spate of complaints, including Corporate Watch Australia’s complaint to the ACCC last year regarding Toyota’s misleading statistics regarding reducing greenhouse gas emissions, used by the company in advertisements promoting the vehicle.

Australian investors: out of Burma

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:29:33 -0600

The Democracy for Burma Action Group in Perth has launched a new campaign targeting Western Australian oil and gas exploration company, Twinza Ltd.

Twinza Oil Ltd was registered in Australia on October 27 2004 as a vehicle for developing oil and gas exploration in Burma. In November 2006 Twinza Oil signed a deal with the Burmese regime to conduct exploration and development, and now has exploration rights over the offshore Yetagun East Block in the south of Burma.

Oxfam calls for mine watchdog after shooting

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:50:39 -0600

27 Mar 08

Shooting of Filipino villager by security guard of Melbourne based miner, OceanaGold, highlights need for independent oversight

Oxfam Australia is calling for an independent inquiry to determine whether the opposition of residents in a remote community in the Philippines is being appropriately responded to by Melbourne based mine operator OceanaGold, which plans to develop a gold and copper mine in the village of Didipio. The move follows reports that a security guard from the mine shot and wounded a villager.

According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the incident took place at around 11am on Easter Saturday 22 March when a demolition team from OceanaGold commenced tearing down the home of a local resident, reportedly asleep in the house at the time. According to the acting provincial police director, a group of local men rushed to the aid of the sleeping man and, in the process, one of the local men, Emilio Pumihic, was shot in the arm by a guard of OceanaGold.

‘This is a very serious incident,’ said Oxfam Australia’s Mining Ombudsman, Shanta Martin. ‘An independent inquiry is needed to inquire into grievances that have long been raised by opponents to the mine operation and the extent to which OceanaGold’s actions are consistent with the human rights of those that have lived in Didipio for generations,’ Ms Martin said.

The incident follows a report published last year by Oxfam Australia, following five years of investigation, which found that many villagers in Didipio complained of harassment and intimidation by agents of the Melbourne-based mine operator. Alleged tactics included attempting to pressure people to sell their land at a price determined by OceanaGold and threatening legal proceedings against illiterate farmers – allegations flatly denied by OceanaGold.

Oxfam Australia called on the Australian mining industry and parliament to establish an independent complaints mechanism to help resolve complaints from communities affected by Australian mining operations overseas and avoid situations such as those that are now occurring in Didipio.

New Corporate Watch Guide: "How to Research a Corporation"

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:20:39 -0600

Corporate Watch Australia have just released a new guide to researching Ausralian Corporations working here an d overseas..

To view the guide, please download the file here:

Download:
How to Research a Corporation.pdf (303.78 KB)

HRL - Burning Coal at Three Minutes to Midnight

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:41:20 -0700

The Corporate Watch report on HRL Ltd, in conjunction with Friends of the  Earth, 'Burning Coal at Three 
Minutes to Midnight' is now available.  The report sheds light on the government grants and 
business interests behind the proposed HRL coal fire power plant in the Latrobe Valley of  Victoria.

With $150 million of state and federal government grants, this new  coal fire power station has

Melbourne-based miner OceanaGold accused of strong arm tactics in Philippines

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:23:45 -0600

A Melbourne based mine operator has been accused by Filipino villagers of harassment and the use of strong arm tactics to pressure them to accept its plans to develop a large gold and copper mine, according to a new report published today by Oxfam Australia.

Oxfam Australia raised these concerns with the company, most recently in July 2007, and recommended they investigate. But to date the mining company has failed to address community grievances. In the absence of an adequate company response, Oxfam is now making public the findings of its investigation.

Prius Complaint in the Press

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:04:19 -0600

Our complaint last week to the ACCC regarding advertising for the Toyota Prius has received some some media coverage this week. We have argued Toyota's claim that "if everyone drove a Prius … then each one of us could reduce our greenhouse gasses by 1 tonne per year" are based on misleading figures.

Both the Sydney Morning Herald and online news service Brisbane Times ran a piece on it.

We will receive a reply from the ACCC within 28 days and we'll keep you up to date with any developments.

Fair Go on Fees

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:54:35 -0600

CHOICE has joined with Consumer Action Law Centre in running a campaign against the exorbitant fees charged by banks and is providing advice on reclaiming these fees.

www.fairfees.com.au also provides the "low down" on fees, asks you to speak out against fees and encourages you to tell your story.

Toyota Lying to Consumers Says Corporate Watchdog

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:38:08 -0600

Media Release 22 June 2007
For Immediate Release

Corporate watchdog Corporate Watch Australia (CWA) has today accused Toyota Australia of making false and misleading claims about its Prius hybrid car, and requested that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) require that Toyota withdraw the ads.

Corporate Watch Australia has lodged a complaint with the ACCC against Toyota for falsely claiming in its advertisements for the Prius.

that “if everyone drove a Prius . . . then each one of us could reduce our greenhouse gasses by 1 tonne per year.”

CWA coordinator Hammy Goonan said today that “Not only does this ad fail to take into account those who would actually increase their emissions by driving a Prius – like cyclists and public transport users – but the claim is also based on misleading figures.”

“The figures used by Toyota are based on an Australian driving 25,000 km a year. However, according to the most recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics the average distance driven by a passenger vehicle in Australia was only 14,800 km a year.” Mr Goonan said.

“Toyota has an international reputation for lying to consumers about the environmental benefits of its products. The company was recently forced by the UK Advertising Standards Authority to withdraw similar advertising in the UK. But they’re still trying the same lies on Australian consumers.”

To Have And Have Not

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:11:52 -0600

In the lead up to the G8 conference in Heiligendamm the Heinrich Boell Foundation, together with the German Federal Minister Wieczorek-Zeul, launched its Memorandum "To Have and Have Not" concerning the world-wide challenges in the resource sector.

The memorandum, outlines the challenges of global resource governance in the 21st Century, focusing on Africa where natural resource wealth has failed to create wealth for local populations, and in fact has resulted in increased corruption, human rights abuses and even violent conflict. It describes the economic, social and ecological implications of resource exploitation and relates that to other challenges such as preventing dangerous climate change, improving investment conditions and promoting democracy.

You can read the full report at: http://www.boell.de/downloads/resource/Boell_Memo_en.pdf.

The Corporate Responsibility Index

Wed, 23 May 2007 23:26:36 -0600

The results of the fourth Australian Corporate Responsibility Index is out again with Westpac taking the top prize again.

You can read it all at http://www.corporate-responsibility.com.au/.

The European Commission extends legal obligations in relation to corporate accountability

Thu, 17 May 2007 19:54:33 -0600

The European Parliament has passed a bill on Corporate Social Responsibility that came out of a report by the Corporate Responsibility (CORE) Coalition which criticised the voluntary approach to CSR and that "new laws are needed to ensure that all business operates fairly under strong environmental and social law, business cannot regulate itself."

The Commission passed a resolution to:

Extend the responsibility of directors of companies with more than 1 000 employees to encompass the duty for the directors themselves to minimise any harmful social and environmental impact of companies' activities;
Bring forward a proposal for social and environmental reporting to be included alongside financial reporting requirements;
Implement a mechanism by which victims, including third-country nationals, can seek redress against European companies in the national courts of the Member States;

You can read the report here.

Why Corporate Social Responsibility is failing Children

Thu, 17 May 2007 19:47:59 -0600

In a report undertaken by Save the Children and the Corporate Responsibility Coalition have released a report, Why Corporate Social Responsibility is failing Children.

The report raises serious concerns about the three voluntary codes that they review, concluding the "the codes have worked effectively only in instances where there has been strong government involvement through legislation and enforcement."

State Responsibilities to Regulate and Adjudicate Corporate Activities under the United Nations’ core Human Rights Treaties

Wed, 16 May 2007 18:32:24 -0600

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has released a report on the responsibilities of individual countries to regulate corporate activities according to the UN's core human rights treaties. The report makes a series of general recommendations regarding legislation, monitoring, adjudication, effective remedy, reparation, sanctions or penalties as well as educational and promotional measures.

The full report can be read here.

Next Researchers Meeting

Thu, 10 May 2007 23:43:13 -0600

Start: 2007-06-06 18:00

End: 2007-06-06 19:00

Location:

Global Trade Watch HQ, 100 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Event Description:

The next meeting for the Corporate Watch Australia campaign's research team will be held on Wednesday 2nd May, at Global Trade Watch's new office, 100 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

These meetings are an opportunity for you to meet the Corporate Watch Australia team and other people interested in undertaking research for us. Ideally, others in the group will be able to help you with your research and vice versa. It may also generate opportunities for you to team up with someone to undertake some research and spread the load.