Integrated reporting in public sector organisations: A study of Australian local councils.

Integrated reporting is a voluntary reporting approach that has the potential to transform corporate reporting. This reporting approach involves integrating financial information with sustainability information and requires a coordinated approach by all organisational departments to address social and environmental issues affecting an organisation, a process referred to as integrated thinking. This paper builds on existing research on public sector organisations and explores the current status and motivations for integrated reporting by Australian local councils and the resulting potential organisational change leading to integrated thinking. The findings reveal that while integrated reporting is emerging in Australian local councils, the external motivations for integrated reporting have led to a limited level of organisational change, leading to a low level of integrated thinking in councils. To enable integrated reporting practices to transform and drive change in organisational practices, this paper considers top level managerial support and a strategic vision for this approach is required.

Using offsets to mitigate environmental impacts of major projects: A stakeholder analysis.

Global patterns of development suggest that as more projects are initiated, business will need to find acceptable measures to conserve biodiversity. The application of environmental offsets allows firms to combine their economic interests with the environment and society. This article presents the results of a multi-stakeholder analysis related to the design of offsets principles, policies, and regulatory processes, using a large infrastructure projects context. The results indicate that business was primarily interested in using direct offsets and other compensatory measures, known internationally as indirect offsets, to acquit their environmental management obligations. In contrast, the environmental sector argued that highly principled and scientifically robust offsets programs should be implemented and maintained for enduring environmental protection. Stakeholder consensus stressed the importance of offsets registers with commensurate monitoring and enforcement. Our findings provide instructive insights into the countervailing views of offsets policy stakeholders.