ASFI is actively engaging with the Australian Government on a range of policy areas relevant to the Roadmap.
About our policy work
The Australian Government is undertaking significant policy reform in a range of areas relevant to the Roadmap including climate, environment, First Nations rights and outcomes, social and affordable housing, social impact investing, international trade and development finance.
There is a role for private capital and the finance sector in achieving Government’s policy ambition in many of these sectors, including through the use of blended finance mechanisms which are being considered and designed by Government in some of these areas.
Policy Engagement
On 23 April, our CEO, Kristy Graham appeared before a Senate Committee Inquiry on the Government’s proposed legislation to establish mandatory climate-related reporting for corporates. Kristy reiterated ASFI’s strong support for the legislation, which we see as being a key pillar of the sustainable finance architecture required to provide markets with clear and comparable information on climate-related risks and opportunities.
ASFI welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback in relation to the Australian Government’s consultation paper on design options for the Your Future Your Super (YFYS) Annual Superannuation Performance Test.
15 of Australia’s most influential organisations representing business, finance and both retail and institutional investors and shareholders have come together to support the passage of Schedule 4 of the Federal Government’s Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Climate reporting Bill).
ASFI welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Indigenous Procurement Policy consultation review.
The Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s exposure draft climate disclosure standards.
Find ASFI’s submission to the Australian Government’s First Nations Clean Energy Strategy consultation paper.
The Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Exposure Draft of the Climate-related financial disclosure legislation.
ASFI in collaboration with the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) have prepared this resource setting out the relationship between decarbonisation scenarios, pathways, plans, and the taxonomy.
On 2 November 2023, the Australian Treasury released its much-anticipated Sustainable Finance Strategy Consultation Paper. This follows the commitment by the Australian Treasurer in December 2022 to develop an ‘ambitious and coordinated’ sustainable finance strategy in 2023.
Last week the Government released its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The strategy identifies opportunities to strengthen Australia’s ties with countries in our region to advance mutual prosperity and security. It sets out 75 recommendations, many of which aim to enable greater levels of Australian investment into the region.
Read ASFI’s response to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Development Finance Review.
In July 2023, the Australian Treasury invited feedback on its second consultation paper on Climate-related Disclosures. ASFI supports the introduction of mandatory climate disclosures for the Australian market. A robust and workable climate disclosures framework will help financial institutions make better decisions, firms understand and manage climate risk and opportunity, and regulators combat greenwashing.
Find ASFI’s submission to the Climate Change Authority’s consultation on “Setting, tracking and achieving Australia’s emissions reduction targets”.
Read ASFI’s submission to the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023.
Today, leading Australian banks and other financial institutions joined with ASFI, the Energy Efficiency Council, and peak property industry bodies to release a Joint Statement urging state, territory and federal governments to act decisively to deliver healthy, comfortable and energy smart homes for Australians.
Read our joint industry statement on the Government’s proposed Safeguard Mechanism reforms.
The Australian Government is developing a nature repair market to encourage investment in biodiversity and drive environmental improvements across Australia. Read ASFI’s submission to the Bill.
This submission presents the collective views of the 11 professional, industry, investor and research bodies listed below. We consider clear, transparent, comprehensive and comparable disclosure of sustainabilityrelated information to be part of the foundation of a well-functioning financial system and welcome the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosure requirements in Australia.
Read ASFI’s submission on the Australian Government’s Climate-related Disclosures Consultation
Today, the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute hosted an event with Australia’s Treasurer, the Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP, where he announced the Government’s plans to strengthen climate risk reporting and develop a sustainable finance strategy. In a demonstration of the Treasurer and finance sector’s willingness to work together to enable the finance sector to better support the climate, environment and social objectives of Australia, industry participants at the event issued a Joint Statement on Accelerating Sustainable Finance.
ASFI is pleased to have supported research led by the Conexus Institute together with FTSE Russell and the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia into the impact of the Your Future Your Super (YFYS) performance test.