Origin Energy has responded to investor pressure and will in future fully disclose its membership of industry organisations and where their policies differ to its own on climate change in what is being seen as a significant win for the anti-carbon lobby.

The decision came after a remarkable 46.3 per cent of proxy shareholders went against the board and backed a resolution at the annual meeting that the board order a comprehensive review of policy advocacy through industry associations such as the Business Council of Australia.

While the resolution wasn’t formally put to the meeting due to a technicality, the vote is a record for a shareholder proposal on an ESG issue in Australian corporate history, according to the Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, which put forward the resolution.”

I think we’ve disclosed reasonably well over time but it was a strong message from shareholders that they would like to see further disclosure and we’re happy to provide [that],” Origin’s chief executive Frank Calabria said.

Source: Origin Energy hit by protest vote over industry lobby groups | afr.com