Debate on the role of corporate social responsibility in decision making

Outlining the global reporting initiative (GRI) framework and illustrating its application by public sector entities in Australia and New Zealand, the article identifies the substantial progress made in developing reporting models and frameworks.

Despite an evident gap and pressing need for a more comprehensive level of stakeholder disclosure, the GRI has emerged as the preferred framework among many adopters both in Australia and overseas.

The paper compares the voluntary and mandatory approaches to reporting on performance in relation to a broader set of stakeholders.

It also uses corporate and public sector environmental disclosure requirements to provide contrasting sources of development in mandated and voluntary disclosure.

The paper was published in Financial Reporting, Regulation and Governance: The Journal of the Accounting Standards Interest Group of the Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand.