Port's reporting standards earn top awards

2 April 2003

A comprehensive 2001-2002 Annual Report detailing strong trading results, increased profitability, a new Visitors’ Centre and the success of the fire-ant eradication program, has earned the Port of Brisbane Corporation a raft of accolades at the recent Institute of Internal Auditors Queensland Public Sector Annual Report Awards ceremony.

The Corporation’s 2001-2002 Annual Report was named Overall Winner, secured an Award of Excellence in the Government Owned Corporations and Statutory Authorities category, and also received awards in the categories of Best Financial Information and Best for Environmental Issues.

The Corporation’s Annual Report was judged among 60 entries received from local government, state government departments, statutory authorities and government owned corporations.

Mr Jeff Coleman, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Brisbane Corporation, said the awards were a fitting finale for a very successful year of operation for the port.

Mr Coleman said highlights included a record trading year, retention of its international ISO 14001 accreditation and the introduction of a range of on-site initiatives to measure, monitor and report on environmental performance.

“Our annual report is the primary mechanism through which we can report to the government and the public about our very diverse range of activities and responsibilities, and so we put a significant amount of energy into releasing comprehensive data,” he said.

“We fully acknowledge the increased public scrutiny of financial reporting procedures and environmental standards, and this too has driven our standards even higher,” Mr Coleman said.

To add to the strength of its public reporting, the port has also introduced a separate Environmental, Social and Economic Report, which outlines and reports on the Corporation’s “Green Port” strategy.

Mr Coleman said the port was the first facility of its kind in Australia to publish an environmental performance report in 1999 and this had now been extended to encompass the triple bottom line report published at the end of 2002.

“Our aim is to continue to build on the standards we have set, both operationally and in our reporting of activities, meeting our responsibilities to the government, employees, the environment and the community,” Mr Coleman concluded.