Origin Energy Ltd – Lobbying Governance & Transparency

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Lobbying Governance

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Comprehensive	Origin Energy Ltd demonstrates a comprehensive governance process for climate lobbying, with clear mechanisms for monitoring, alignment, and oversight. The company conducts an annual review of its industry association memberships to ensure alignment with its climate change strategy, stating that "Origin reviews its industry association memberships annually and will only maintain memberships that are consistent with the companys principles for industry association membership outlined in this document." This review includes assessing the public policy positions of associations, particularly regarding climate change, and requires approval from the Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs, with reporting to the CEO and the Board. Furthermore, the review findings are published on the companys website, enhancing transparency. Origin also commits to exiting associations that "have a formal policy of climate change denial or actively and consistently promote anti-climate change messages or lobby against the goals of the Paris Agreement." The company actively engages with governments and industry associations to advocate for climate policies aligned with the Paris Agreement, emphasizing its role in influencing industry associations to adopt supportive positions. Oversight of these activities is robust, with the Board Safety and Sustainability Committee maintaining oversight of public policy advocacy and the operationalization of climate-related principles. Additionally, the Just Transition Working Group, sponsored by the Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs, reports periodically to the Climate Change Forum chaired by the CEO and the Board Safety and Sustainability Committee. Origin has also published detailed reports, such as the "Industry Association Review," which evaluates the alignment of its memberships with climate-related policies. This indicates a strong governance framework that encompasses direct and indirect lobbying activities, with clear accountability structures and alignment processes in place. View Sources	A

Overall Assessment

Analysis

Score

Comprehensive

Origin Energy Ltd demonstrates a comprehensive governance process for climate lobbying, with clear mechanisms for monitoring, alignment, and oversight. The company conducts an annual review of its industry association memberships to ensure alignment with its climate change strategy, stating that "Origin reviews its industry association memberships annually and will only maintain memberships that are consistent with the companys principles for industry association membership outlined in this document." This review includes assessing the public policy positions of associations, particularly regarding climate change, and requires approval from the Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs, with reporting to the CEO and the Board. Furthermore, the review findings are published on the companys website, enhancing transparency. Origin also commits to exiting associations that "have a formal policy of climate change denial or actively and consistently promote anti-climate change messages or lobby against the goals of the Paris Agreement." The company actively engages with governments and industry associations to advocate for climate policies aligned with the Paris Agreement, emphasizing its role in influencing industry associations to adopt supportive positions. Oversight of these activities is robust, with the Board Safety and Sustainability Committee maintaining oversight of public policy advocacy and the operationalization of climate-related principles. Additionally, the Just Transition Working Group, sponsored by the Executive General Manager Corporate Affairs, reports periodically to the Climate Change Forum chaired by the CEO and the Board Safety and Sustainability Committee. Origin has also published detailed reports, such as the "Industry Association Review," which evaluates the alignment of its memberships with climate-related policies. This indicates a strong governance framework that encompasses direct and indirect lobbying activities, with clear accountability structures and alignment processes in place.

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Lobbying Transparency

Overall Assessment	Analysis	Score
Comprehensive	Origin Energy provides an extensive and precise account of its climate-policy lobbying. It names a wide range of concrete measures it has engaged on, including “a reformed Safeguard Mechanism that contributes a proportional share to Australia’s emissions reduction commitments,” support for “the drafting of a Hydrogen Guarantee of Origin scheme and associated Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin scheme,” advocacy for “an ambitious National Electric Vehicle Strategy including a robust national fuel-efficiency standard to be implemented expeditiously,” maintenance of the Renewable Energy Target, and introduction of “an emissions intensity scheme for the electricity sector.” The company describes multiple routes it uses to influence policy: “regular dialogue and meetings” with “state and federal governments and ministerial departments,” “policy submissions to Government,” direct “board memberships, CEO meetings and committee participation” within associations such as the Australian Energy Council and Business Council of Australia, and attendance at key conferences, as well as indirect engagement “through peak industry associations.” These statements identify both the mechanisms and the targets of its lobbying, naming entities such as the NSW Government, the Clean Energy Regulator, relevant departments and ministers’ offices, and industry bodies. Origin is equally explicit about the outcomes it seeks, pressing for “policy settings to enable progressive decarbonisation of the energy sector,” the implementation of carbon-pricing via an emissions-intensity mechanism, vehicle and appliance efficiency standards, EV rebates and charging infrastructure, and stronger interim emissions targets within the industry associations it influences. Taken together, these disclosures demonstrate a high level of transparency across the policies lobbied, the channels used, and the concrete legislative or regulatory changes the company wants to see enacted.	A