The success of Australia’s property industry, both now and in the future, depends upon its ability to operate in line with investor and community expectations on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Australian property companies’ sustainability credentials are recognised as globally leading, and the industry’s expertise and leading practice is well known around the world.Â
Our members have a long-term stake in ensuring our capital and regional cities thrive and want to see decisive action on climate mitigation and adaptation to avoid the worst projected impacts of climate change. Within Australia’s business community, the property industry is a leader in the race to drastically reduce emissions with many of our members committed to ambitious goals to reach net zero emissions by 2030 or sooner.  Our industry is also leading the charge on megatrends like electrification and phasing out fossil fuel use in buildings, tackling embodied carbon and working towards nature positive strategies to improve biodiversity outcomes.
The Australian property industry has also shown global leadership on social sustainability initiatives, including gender diversity through the Property Champions of Change, the establishment of world first industry-wide online platforms to tackle modern slavery risks in supply chains and measure the collective social impact of the sector.
The property sector has a long history of collaboration to develop standards, improve industry practices and drive ESG performance, and this focus is becoming increasingly important for our members, communities, stakeholders and governments. As agents of change and positive impact, promoting the best ESG outcomes is core to our mission.Â
As the industry’s voice, we are actively working with members and leadership forums like our National Sustainability Roundtable to enhance and promote diversity, encourage sustainability, strong governance and a positive social impact wherever and however we can. Our key strategic priorities across ESG are:
- Energy, emissions and climate
- Social sustainability, including human rights and Modern Slavery
- Resilience
- Circular economy
- Reporting frameworks and disclosures.
Every Building Counts
Launched with the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Senator The Hon. Jenny McAllister, Every Building Counts is a new joint report by the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia.
Buildings account for over 50% of electricity use in Australia and almost a quarter of its emissions. The built environment has the technology to decarbonise now, but we must do this at speed and scale to smooth the way for other hard-to-abate sectors and achieve Australia’s legislated emission reduction targets.
Governments must implement policies and programs that provide certainty to industry and drive the transition to zero-carbon-ready homes and buildings. Across eight policy themes, Every Building Counts sets out policy recommendations which provide a roadmap for governments towards a greener, healthier, more equitable built environment.
Modern Slavery in Supply Chains
We began working to help end modern slavery in property operations and supply chains with 15 of our largest members in 2018, launching a global first industry-wide Supplier Platform and education resources with expert input from modern slavery, human rights and supply chain specialists. We continue to work with our members and stakeholders on this urgent human rights matter through our Human Rights and Modern Slavery working group, which has grown in scope and membership.
There are 49.6 million people living in conditions of modern slavery, according to the Global Slavery Index, of whom 59 per cent are estimated to be across the Asia Pacific region.
The Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act, which came into force on 1 January 2019, requires companies with annual revenues of more than $100 million to report annually on the risks of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains, and to demonstrate the actions they are taking to address those risks.
Working with our Human Rights and Modern Slavery working group, we’ve developed useful resources for the property industry to assist their understanding and ability address modern slavery risks in property operations and supply chains. These include:
- Pathway to Respecting Human Rights and Addressing Modern Slavery Risks, across ten clear steps, this pathway is designed to give property and construction businesses and their suppliers practical and actionable steps for respecting human rights and tackling modern slavery, no matter the size of business or level of experience.Â
- Guidance to improve Modern Slavery statements in the property sector, including 11 clear recommendations following detailed advice from five modern slavery, human rights and supply chain experts
- Listening and Responding to Modern Slavery in Property and Construction, a practical guide for effective human rights grievance mechanisms, developed in partnership with KPMG
- Remediating Modern Slavery in Property and Construction, a practical guide for effective Human Rights remediation, developed I partnership with KPMG.
Our Supplier Platform, delivered in collaboration with leading property companies, Informed 365 and industry experts, asks property suppliers about the actions they are taking to assess and address human rights and modern slavery risks across shared operations and supply chains. In operation since 2018, the platform has engaged over 10,000 suppliers.
Social Procurement
By making conscious choices about the suppliers they work with, property companies can build strong and sustainable businesses while delivering value to people and the planet. It’s a simple but powerful idea that doubles the difference we make in our communities.
One of the most important ways we can directly invest in our communities in the course of business is through the power of social procurement.
The Property Council’s National Social Sustainability Roundtable has developed a Guide to Social and Indigenous Procurement.
Collective Social Impact Framework
The property industry shapes the places in which Australians live and work. It also is home to Australia’s largest workforce and has far-reaching and elaborate supply chains. Given the scale of its impact, socially, economically and environmentally, the property industry is in a unique position to improve people’s lives.
The Property Council and our members are determined to lead the conversation about delivering positive change through social sustainability in Australia’s property industry.
For this reason, the Property Council’s National Social Sustainability Roundtable spearheaded the establishment of a Collective Social Impact Framework as a way to assess and quantify these efforts across the sector.
The successful completion of the pilot phase of the Framework means that it is now ready for its substantial release. The Framework enables voluntary reporting on actions and initiatives underway by member organisations. Members can leverage their current efforts by reporting against the Framework which has been mapped against, and aligned to, existing industry standards.
Data gathered from the Framework will also deliver consolidated industry insights on the range of social initiatives across the Australian property sector for benchmarking and advocacy. The Property Council intends to make this information available in a de-identified way following the completion of the reporting phase.
Access resources and start reporting below.
Upcoming Events
View events related to environmental, social and governance.
Our Industry Committees
We have a National Sustainability Roundtable, Social Sustainability Roundtable, and sustainability Committees in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victorian Divisions.
Our sustainability Committees are focused on driving the ESG advocacy agenda. As the industry’s voice, we are actively working with members through these Committees to enhance and promote diversity, encourage sustainability, strong governance and a positive social impact wherever and however we can. Our key strategic priorities across ESG are:
- Energy, emissions and climate
- Social sustainability, including human rights and Modern Slavery
- Resilience
- Circular economy
- Reporting frameworks and disclosures.
Committees meet every four to six weeks to discuss issues and projects relevant to their expertise and the focus of the Committee. Being selected as a member of a Property Council Committee gives you the opportunity to help shape the future and influence the organisation’s advocacy agenda. Members have the opportunity to contribute to important, focused industry discussions while building their professional networks and knowledge.Â
As part of our 40-40-20 commitment to gender equity, all our Committees comprise a minimum of 40 per cent female representatives. Committee members are appointed for a two-year term, with the current Committees commencing their tenure in February 2023.
Key statistics
Source: Low Carbon Living CRC, Best Practice Policy and Regulation for Low carbon Outcomes in the Built Environment, 2017, GRESB, Informal survey of Property Council members.
Research
The Property Council’s research team produces a suite of industry data directly related to environmental, social and governance.
Shopping Centre Directory: SA 2025
The Property Council’s Shopping Centre Directories provide a comprehensive listing of shopping centres within each state. They contain details on centre ownership, size, management, tenancy mix, site area, number
Shopping Centre Directory: NSW/ACT 2025
The Property Council’s Shopping Centre Directories provide a comprehensive listing of shopping centres within each state. They contain details on centre ownership, size, management, tenancy mix, site area, number
WA Office Market Report Package | January 2025
As the respected industry standard, the Australian Office Market Report allows property professionals to review trends in the supply of and demand for office space in Australia. The
Campaigns & Submissions
View campaigns and submissions related to environmental, social and governance.
Election Connection 2025
We have a pro-investment purpose – to see the benefits of improving our great Australian cities widely shared by all Australians.
Submission – OLG Reforms to the Model Code of Meeting Practice
The draft Model Meeting Code removes provisions relating to pre-meeting briefing sessions, which in effect, should still allow councils to set their own rules regarding pre-meeting briefings. We do not
A pro-cities, pro-investment agenda 2025 Federal election platform
We have a pro-investment purpose – to see the benefits of improving our great Australian cities widely shared by all Australians.
Upcoming Academy courses
Comprising workshops, online learning and industry diploma courses, our Academy provides the resources to enhance the professional lives of our members. It's a professional development platform with something for everyone.
Latest news
View news related to environmental, social and governance.
Labor to subsidise home batteries
Homes and businesses will be offered a 30 per cent discount for electric batteries under a re-elected Labor government.
The Federal Budget: what you need to know
Get the essential highlights and insights from last night’s Federal Budget and what it means for our industry.
GBCA launches Green Star apartments
The Green Building Council of Australia has launched Green Star apartments, a new sustainability rating that independently verifies each apartment within a certified building, with six companies involved in a trial.
Awards
For almost 40 years, the Property Council of Australia has hosted the industry’s most prestigious awards. As champions of our industry we celebrate and reward excellence. Winning a Property Council award means truly being at the top of your game.
Innovation & Excellence Awards
The annual Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards are the most prominent property awards in Australia, promoting excellence in design and innovation in the built environment since 1982.
National Retirement Living Awards
The Property Council’s National Retirement Living Awards celebrate excellence and achievement across all parts of the retirement living sector.Â