Quarterly News • June 2003 - Leighton Holdings

Living our valuesThiess is committed to operating all its businesses in an ethical, sociallyresponsible and environmentally sustainable manner.InsightOne of the areas in whichThiess operates, themining and resourcessector, has made significantadvances in recent years inrecognising that long-termsustainability requires awarenessof the world beyond bottom lineprofit, followed up with tangibleactions.The Prime Minister John Howardaddressing the recent annualMinerals Council of AustraliaParliamentary Dinner in Canberrapaid tribute to members for theirleadership role in promoting aculture that recognises the valueof sustainable development.“We live in a world whereeconomic efficiency isimperative, but we also live ina world in which environmentaloutcomes, fairness, decency toall and a regard for the longertermplace of Australia in theworld are also very importantconsiderations,” the PrimeMinister said.For Thiess, these are principlesthat have applicability in everyaspect of our business - not justmining but also in our othercore areas of building, civilengineering, process engineering,environmental services, utilitiesservices, telecommunications,and facilities operations andmaintenance.Of course, a profitable businessis critical to our survival and ourhighest priority is to generatean acceptable and sustainablereturn to our shareholders.However, Thiess continuesto work hard to ensure thatworkplace health and safety,protection of the environmentand community engagement arealso priorities in our businessplanning and project deliveryactivities.The embodiment of thisphilosophy is contained in ourValues Statement we call ‘Makea Difference’, which is on publicdisplay at all Thiess offices andprojects. It communicates ourcore values and the approach ofthe company and our people tothe conduct of business.Thiess recognises that successin the longer-term is notdemonstrated by financial resultsalone, but also by the acceptanceof our activities by a broad rangeof stakeholders who, in effect,grant us the ‘licence’ to operate.We regard third party scrutiny andself-examination of performanceagainst a range of criteria assimple good business sense.Only 11 per cent of Australiancompanies produce ‘triple bottomline’ reports and, in order toencourage more companiesto inform stakeholders onenvironmental and other areas ofnon-financial performance, theFederal Government has issued apublication called ‘Triple BottomLine Reporting in Australia’.For the past four years, Thiesshas produced an annual ‘reportcard’ on our delivery againstkey performance indicators inthe areas of health and safety,the environment and communityrelations. Each year, we have sethigher performance expectationsin these important areas.This year’s report, which will alsoinclude information on economicoutcomes, will be completed anddistributed in the last quarter of2003.Please enjoy this edition of ThiessNews, focusing on the work ofour people in New South Walesand the many exciting projects inwhich they are involved.Roger TrundleManaging Director ■3 THIESS