Telstra

OVERALL
Owned	AUS
Rating

Telecommunications services

Australia's largest telecommunications company. The company was privatised in stages starting in 1997, becoming fully privatised in 2011. Services include internet access, fixed line and mobile telephony, and pay television (through its Foxtel joint venture with News Corp).


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Telstra Corporation Ltd

CDP Climate Change Score of A-

In 2020, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A-.
Source: CDP (2020)

Australian Packaging Covenant signatory

Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation.
Source: Australian Packaging Covenant (2020)

Fined for misleading behavior

In 2018 the Federal Court fined Telstra $10 million for making false or misleading representations to customers in relation to its third-party billing service known as "Premium Direct Billing" (PDB), following action by the ACCC. The Court held, by consent, that Telstra misled customers and breached the ASIC Act when it charged them for digital content, such as games and ringtones, which they unknowingly purchased. Telstra admitted that more than 100,000 customers may have been affected and has committed to offer refunds to these customers.
Source: ACCC (2018)

Unconscionable conduct

In May 2021 Australia's Federal Court ordered that Telstra pay $50 million in penalties for engaging in unconscionable conduct when it sold mobile contracts to more than 100 Indigenous consumers across three states and territories, in proceedings brought by the ACCC. Telstra admitted that between January 2016 and August 2018, it breached the Australian Consumer Law and acted unconscionably when sales staff at five licensed Telstra-branded stores signed up 108 Indigenous consumers to multiple post-paid mobile contracts which they did not understand and could not afford.
Source: ACCC (2021)

48.8% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017

This company received a score of 48.8/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)

39/100 S&P Global ESG Score

This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 39/100 in the Telecommunication Services category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 7 Feb 2021). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2021)

Fined for anticompetitive behavior

In 2010 the Federal Court fined Telstra $18.55 million for denying competitors access to infrastructure in contravention of its carrier licence. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]
Source: ACCC (2010)

Fined for phone line delays

In 2014 Telstra was fined $510,000 by Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for failing to connect new telephone lines within regulated time limits. Telstra also received an official warning for failing to properly follow the consultation process when removing eight public payphones.
Source: news article (2014)

Fined for privacy breach

In 2014 Telstra was fined $10,200 and warned about privacy after a data breach saw the information of 15,775 customers made available online. Privacy Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim found Telstra failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the security of the data it held.
Source: news article (2014)

Political donations

According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $90,764 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)

Greenfleet supporter

This company works with the not-for-profit organisation Greenfleet to calculate and offset emissions from flights and their fleet of vehicles.
Source: Greenfleet (2020)

Employer of Choice for Gender Equality

This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.
Source: WGEA (2019)

Tax paying in Australia

Between 2015 and 2018 this company paid $5.2 billion tax on a total income of $80 billion, earning the number 7 spot on Michael West's Top 40 Tax Payers 2020. West calculated which of Australia's largest companies have paid the most tax using three years of tax transparency data published by the Australian Tax Office.
Source: Michael West (2018)

GeSI member

This company is a member of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), a leading source of impartial information, resources and best practices for achieving integrated social and environmental sustainability through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Source: GeSI (2016)

MobileMuster member

This company is a member of MobileMuster, Australia's only not-for-profit, Government accredited mobile recycling program, established and funded by the mobile phone industry since late 1998. The program adopts a product stewardship model based on circular economy principles where they promise to keep old mobiles and accessories out of landfill and recycle them in a safe, secure and ethical way, placing reusable commodities back into the supply stream.
Source: Mobile Muster (2019)

Modern Slavery statement

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: Modern Slavery Registry (2017)

Modern Slavery Statement disclosure quality

Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 100 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX100). This company ranked #26 of 100 companies.
Source: Monash University (2021)

Data collection

Telstra has installed highly advanced surveillance systems to "vacuum" the telephone calls, texts, social media messages and internet metadata of millions of Australians so that information can be filtered and given to intelligence and law enforcement agencies. All Australian telecommunications and internet service providers by law must maintain interception and data-collection capabilities for government.
Source: news article (2013)

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Company Details

Type	Public company
Revenue	26 billion AUD (2017)
Employees	26,000 (2019)
Subsidiaries	Foxtel Management Pty Ltd (35% owned) Pay television Subscription television service incorporated in 1995 with 2.8 million subscribers across Australia. Previously a 50:50 joint venture between Telstra and News Corp, in 2018 News Corp's Fox Sports was absorbed by the company, resulting in News Corp owning a 65% stake and Telstra 35%.

Contact Details

Address	242 Exhibition St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Phone	13 22 00
Website	www.telstra.com

Products / Brands

Telstra

Telstra TV Box Office Video Streaming

Foxtel (35% owned)

Binge Video Streaming
Foxtel Now Video Streaming

Telstra

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