Keeping Good Companies articles from September 2004

Keeping Good Companies archives from September 2004

Does increased corporate governance lead to increased job satisfaction?
September 1, 2004... CSA and Ambition conducted a survey with CSA members in July and found that, although the role of the governance professional is becoming increasingly responsible, as corporate guidelines and legislation become more onerous, there has not been...

The meaning of independence.(Applied Corporate Governance)
September 1, 2004... * The limitations of the definition of independence offered in the ASX Corporate Governance Council guidelines * Understanding how independence might be exercised in the boardroom * How to assess whether independence in the boardroom...

APRA regulates business continuity management.(Australian Prudential Regulation Authority)
September 1, 2004... Between now and November 2004, discussion and news reporting will continue on the draft standard on business continuity management released in July 2004 by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). The standard, which invites...

Charitable governance: the ICSA draft principles of good governance for charities.(News And Views)(Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators)
September 1, 2004... Chartered Secretaries Australia's sister organisation in Britain, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), has recently released a draft code of Principles of Good Governance for Charities. (1) Given the increasing...

CLERP 9 offers very little that's worthwhile.(News And Views)(Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act of Australia)
September 1, 2004... Now that the CLERP 9 legislation is in place and the paranoia over auditor independence is perceived to have been dealt with, what does it all mean? Quite frankly, not much that is positive. Not only is the old concept of form over...

CLERP 9: practical effects for Company Secretaries.(Company Secretary)(Corporate Law Economic Reform Program Act of Australia)
September 1, 2004... * A checklist for ensuring auditor independence is in place * A checklist for seeing a remuneration policy is followed through * Checklists for ensuring protocols for continuous disclosure and shareholder communication are in place ...

Improved competition rules, tougher penalties.(Competition Law)
September 1, 2004... * Increased pecuniary penalties for body corporates, including turnover-based penalties * A new prohibition against corporate indemnification of company officers, employees and agents * The potential for individuals to be disqualified...

Customer communications: keeping pace in an ever-changing environment.
September 1, 2004... The customer-communications industry in Australia has undergone significant change in the past 15 years, during which time the traditional print and mail house has given way to a proliferation of 'customer-communication specialists', many of...

The possibility of CLERP 9 1/2.(Corporate Law)(Corporate Law Economic Reform Program)
September 1, 2004... * Proposed extension of black-letter law reforms * More changes possible in auditing, director remuneration and whistleblowing * Reform fervour is not over so 'watch this space' Before 30 June 2004, the Australian Labor Party and...

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing: personal risks in relation to breach of trust.(State Focus)
September 1, 2004... It has often been said that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing'. This truism is particularly relevant to the personal risks faced by directors or officers of a company who are involved in a breach of trust. 'Knowing assistance' and...

Rights of indemnity in the employment relationship.(Employment Law)
September 1, 2004... * Employees may have a right of indemnity from employers if they have been directed to undertake unlawful acts that they did not know were unlawful * Employers may have a right of indemnity from employees where the employees have breached...

Directors and community expectations: everyone agrees that directors lead their companies. What there is less agreement on, though, is exactly what that entails.(News And Views)
September 1, 2004... It is a recurrent complaint in business circles today that the expectations made of directors have grown beyond all bounds. For directors in Australia, there is no escaping the burgeoning legislative and regulatory burden now placed on...

Build trust: get organised.(Management)
September 1, 2004... * Disorganisation in business can cost you the trust of your clients * Review your working habits to identify why and where you are disorganised * Five strategies to help you become organised There are many ways to build trust...

A meeting of one? Shortcomings of s 249B(1) to dispense with meetings of single-member companies.(State Focus)
September 1, 2004... Section 249B(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 provides that a company that has only one member may pass a resolution by the member recording it and signing the record. This provision generally allows single-member companies to pass resolutions...

IFRS: are there any ASX-related continuous disclosure issues?(Risk Management)(International Financial Reporting Standards)(Australian Stock Exchange Limited)
September 1, 2004... * The interaction of the Australian equivalents of IFRS with existing governance obligations * The implications of this for companies in the first reporting season * Disclosure as a means of educating the marketplace in relation to...