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Publications
Our environmental, social and economic performance
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004
ISBN 0 642 55046 8
TBL reporting is an integrated approach to public reporting of environmental, social and economic outcomes against established benchmarks. It springs from a consensus that the vitality of organisations and communities depends on positive environmental, social and financial outcomes.
Successful TBL reporting can also clarify organisational structures, identify problems with existing data collection and analysis practices, and inform the development of practical, achievable social and environmental goals. It may also improve an organisation’s ability to identify the needs of stakeholders.
Over recent years a growing number of private sector organisations, government agencies and government business enterprises throughout Australia have adopted TBL reporting as an integral element of their business strategies. The Australian Government and DEH actively support and encourage this trend by providing guidance and access to examples of good reporting practice. For example, in 2003 DEH published Triple Bottom Line Reporting in Australia: a Guide to Reporting Against Environmental Indicators (DEH TBL Guide) and we maintain an online library of sustainability reports.
The TBL Report demonstrates our willingness to be open and transparent about our environmental, social and economic performance. It offers us the opportunity to communicate our TBL performance and initiatives to stakeholders in a single concise report. It also enhances the credibility of our advice on TBL reporting and environmental management by showing that we act on that advice, and provides a practical example of our guidance in action.
Apart from the external benefits, the reporting process has provided us with a range of tangible internal benefits. For example, we have identified some weaknesses and gaps in our social and environmental practices and the findings may inform future improvements. In addition, publication of the TBL Report plays a role in attracting, and retaining, skilled enthusiastic staff.
The focus of this TBL Report is the environmental performance of our Canberra office-based operations at the John Gorton Building in Parkes, and the social and economic performance of the wider Department (excluding AAD). Where accurate historical data are available, the report shows performance trends measured against suitable benchmarks. Against many key indicators, goals are set, committing us to ongoing improvements. This material is supplemented by a case study of the design and construction of the Australian Greenhouse Office’s new underground office complex at the John Gorton Building. This study highlights how environmental, social and economic outcomes can be improved by applying sound green building practices.
This report is based on environmental, social and economic indicators from the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines 2002. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable sustainability reporting guidelines. We have also used the DEH TBL Guide, which tailors the GRI environmental indicators for Australian conditions.
Only those indicators that address office-based operations for which DEH can access meaningful information were selected. As a result, DEH is reporting against 16 environmental, 12 social and five economic indicators. The GRI includes standard abbreviations for each indicator, such as EN3 for direct energy use. In this report, the relevant GRI and DEH TBL Guide abbreviations appear next to the respective section headings. A full list of indicators, including descriptions can be found at Appendix B.
DEH has participated in the development of the GRI’s Public Agency Sector Supplement but that document was not available in time for use in this report.
At present, AAD has separate reporting systems but robust data on outcomes against key environmental indicators are not yet available for SSD or Parks operations located outside the John Gorton Building. However, the latter section of this report provides overviews of the structure and operational responsibilities of these areas. Linked case studies show how they respond to environmental, heritage conservation, and social issues that impact on local communities, or have wider significance for Australians.
Verification of TBL data provides assurance that it meets acceptable standards of completeness, accuracy, precision and reliability. Verification requires an auditing process that examines the systems and processes used for data collection, reconciles data with source documentation and tests it for accuracy. Underlying assumptions and data definitions are also tested. Credibility is enhanced by the use of external auditors, a practice promoted by DEH.
Verification provides clear external and internal benefits.
These include:
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has audited five of the report’s environmental indicators and four of the social indicators. These indicators were selected for their direct relevance to our operational and policy objectives. Additional indicators may be verified in any subsequent reports. Throughout the report the symbol 
indicates those indicators that were fully verified by the ANAO. The symbol 
(that is, a tick within a box) indicates data that received qualified verification, or that the ANAO was unable to verify. All five of the environmental indicators and two of the social indicators audited were fully verified.
The full ANAO report is at Appendix A.
DEH would appreciate feedback on this report. Please call (02) 6274 1909 or email tblreport@deh.gov.au with your comments.