Submission: Australian National Contact Point processes

Our submission to the consultation on the Australian National Contact Point grievance mechanism processes focuses on a few areas for improvement including; 

• creating stronger incentives for companies to engage in ‘good offices’ 

• a greater role of the AusNCP in awareness raising about the OECD guidelines and complaints mechanism 

• clearer reporting through the AusNCP website 

• greater details on complaints and analysis of complaints and compliance with the OECD guidelines in AusNCP annual reports 

• greater support for notifiers in supporting access to information, access to negotiators, and possible funding support 

• consider the impact and possibility of including merits-based review alongside procedural review 

• stronger incentives for companies and government to implement recommendations in the final report 

• clarify companies’ responsibilities to meet OECD guidelines, despite domestic law and policy which may allow an activity, and that the AusNCP mechanism reviews compliance with the guidelines not domestic law and policy 

• there be greater requirement for the AusNCP to alert and inform notifiers about progress and outcomes of companies and government implementing recommendations in the final report.