Climate change and the new narrative: understanding the politics and the impacts

In this challenging series of articles, CEO of the Sustain Group, Matthew Tukaki, will discuss the changing nature of politics and the impacts it is having on the climate change and business response debate. This first blog covers the politics of the debate and policy execution is important while his second blog will provide a detailed industry analysis of the impacts, both directly and indirectly. 

The fight against corruption: protecting brand Australia

Possibly, for the first time in the history of business in Australia, we may see a series of prosecutions that specifically look at corrupt misconduct by an Australian organisation and its officials outside of the country.

Securency International, a maker of Polymer bank notes and partly owned by Australia’s Reserve Bank, is at the centre of a scandal involving tens of millions of dollars across multiple countries.

At the heart of the allegations lies the intent of officials to use third parties to secure lucrative contracts – in some cases, it would appear third parties who already have dubious reputations when it comes to doing business. While this is not a new event, we have seen bribery and corruption allegations come from the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) and sanction busting in Iraq, what is new is the possibility that these allegations could lead to prosecutions which could lead to convictions.

Please support NZ Salvos’ earthquake appeal

NZ skills shortage to worsen as OZ pull across the Tasman strengthens

The decade in review and the decade to come

As we lay the first decade of the noughties to rest what can we expect for the next decade to come?

Can you believe that it’s another decade over and a new one about to begin? Where did the last ten years go? Or were there just too many things happening that by the time we arrived at December 2010 – we hardly saw the time fly.

So what did happen and where to next in this new decade? Well, let’s take a look at some of the really notable events, but without dwelling on them too much because no doubt historians will and already have.

The new millennium dawned with the prospect of global meltdown – we all bought into the Y2K bug, and as a result, billions was spent preparing for something that many now consider to be a con.

The Declaration of Human Rights: Where to from here for business and industry?

Unlike Government’s and nation states, business does not necessarily have borders – so what role can we play in protecting and promoting human rights?

Human rights is normally seen as involving an individual or something for Government’s and civil society organisations to consider, but, on this the Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, I want to pose the question of whether or not business has an increasing responsibility to also adhere to a fundamental series of principles.

At the centre of any civil and developing society sits the fundamental rights of human beings to live, to work, to raise a family (or not as the case may be), to vote for whom they want, to engage with whom they please, and to do what it is, within the law, what they want to do.

Paid maternity leave just around the corner…are you confused?

It’s time to make sure you understand and are prepared for the introduction of the paid parental leave scheme.

It strikes me that there is a degree of confusion in the business community about a fundamental series of changes that will come into force from 1 January 2011. In the main, those changes relate to the introduction of the Government’s Paid Parental Scheme.

This confusion has been evident in a series of workshops that I have been running around understanding the impacts of legislation on employers and hiring managers.

Greening of our economy: the rise of the green collar workforce

 

I was recently invited to be a member of an expert panel, bought together by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, to discuss the rise of the Green Collar Workforce.

As the General Manager of Government and Public Sector at one of the worlds oldest and largest employment companies, the move towards a change in workforce diversity as a result of the rise of a green economy is not only important to me, it is a key solution to the issue of climate change.

When we reach Copenhagen this December the world should already have an indication of whether or not a deal can be struck on lowering carbon emissions and, therefore, stabilising climatic changes. We should know because Governments and policy makers are already beginning to outline their individual policy programs. In the United States that response has recently been outlined by President Barrack Obama ahead of the G8 Conference in Italy:

Is it time for a bill of human rights in Australia?

What does a BoR's mean to us and what lessons can we learn from other similar countries?

Renewable energy as stimulus

 

Investing in renewable energy as a stimulus package: aligning the need for emission reduction with employment and industry growth.

 

Investing in renewable energy as a stimulus package: aligning the need for emission reduction with employment and industry growth 

OBAMA WINS!

The election of Obama will see the rise of a new world order.

Developing business contingency plans for the months ahead: consolidating and building

How do we insulate our business from the global financial crisis? What steps can we consider? How do we plan and build for the future while consolidating the present. Sure there are challenges, but there are also opportunities in challenges!