Triple Bottom Line

The FRDC has moved to an integrated triple bottom line reporting framework that will provide greater transparency on, and understanding of, how the FRDC operates. As the first stage of this process FRDC engaged Sydney University to undertake an analysis of the FRDC Secretariat functions (the running of the FRDC, staff, building etc.) and develop a TBL account for the Corporation.

The results of this analysis show that measured per dollar of output, FRDC performs much better than the private sector organisations in the wider economy in terms of all environmental indicators, including far above average in land disturbance and water use, and above average in greenhouse gas emissions andprimary energy use. FRDC's performance was above average in government revenue and imports, however below average in exports and in gross operating surplus, and slightly below averagein terms of employment generated. Finally, FRDC's linkages with the rest of the economy are weaker than those of other sectors.

Benchmarked only against the public services sectors, FRDC's TBL performance was comparable with the average public service provider. FRDC's performance is slightly above average in terms of all environmental indicators, but below average in terms of income and employment generation - given FRDC only employs ten staff this is hardly surprising.

Balancing Act - FRDC Review and Analysis