Clean Energy Council response to Channel 7 Spotlight program

The footage shown as part of Channel 7’s Spotlight program last night was distressing, and illustrates how practices not acceptable within Australia can become intertwined with supply chains that result in the phones, laptops and modern-day appliances we use on a daily basis. 

Australia's clean energy industry takes its human rights obligations seriously.

Australian companies are subject to the Modern Slavery Act and under Australian law report on measures being taken to improve traceability and due diligence across within the supply chains they rely on. Like all of corporate Australia, that work is ongoing and there will always be more to do. 

Global supply chains for minerals such as cobalt are long, complex and shared across the electronics, automotive, aerospace, defence and energy sectors. No single industry owns this challenge, and no single industry can solve it alone.

The CEC supports supply chain transparency, credible certification schemes, and closer collaboration between industry, government and civil society to lift standards at the source. 

The Clean Energy Council was not approached for comment by the Channel 7 Spotlight program.