Role
The Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct (AusNCP):
- promotes responsible business conduct standards under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Due Diligence Guidance
- helps resolve complaints which allege multinational enterprises have acted inconsistently with the OECD Guidelines.
The AusNCP complaints mechanism gives parties a forum to work together to resolve issues. It is not a legal process. While voluntary, participation is strongly encouraged.
The AusNCP helps the Australian Government to implement certain parts of the:
- OECD Recommendation on the Role of government in Promoting Responsible Business Conduct
- Ministerial Declaration on Promoting and Enabling Responsible Business Conduct in the Global Economy.
History
The AusNCP was established in 2000. It was reformed in 2019 after an independent review.
NCP counterparts in New Zealand, Italy and Sweden ran an OECD peer review of the AusNCP in 2021.
The AusNCP published its response [PDF 292 KB] to the final report [PDF 825 KB] in 2022. The AusNCP presented its progress report [PDF 424 KB] to the OECD Working Party for Responsible Business Conduct in 2023.
Structure
Secretariat
The Secretariat in Treasury manages the AusNCP. They represent Australia in international forums on responsible business conduct.
The Secretariat is in the Market Conduct and Digital Division of Treasury.
Independent examiners
The independent examiners are experts contracted to Treasury. They manage complaints brought to the AusNCP, including:
- decision‑making
- communication and conciliation with parties
- publishing statements on findings.
Independent examiners raise awareness of the AusNCP functions. They promote responsible business conduct standards through their networks and events.
Governance and Advisory Board
The Governance and Advisory Board has representatives from the government, civil society, business and unions.
Board members promote responsible business conduct standards. They advise independent examiners to help manage complaints.
Fact sheets
- AusNCP – overview [PDF 307 KB]
- AusNCP – authority and structure [PDF 164 KB]
- AusNCP – impartiality [PDF 179 KB]
National Contact Points
All governments following the Guidelines must set up a National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct (NCP). The AusNCP is 1 of over 50 NCPs governments across the world established.
NCPs are not judicial bodies. They offer a grievance mechanism to handle complaints about multinational enterprises not following the Guidelines.
NCPs assess complaints against the Guidelines criteria. They bring parties together for mutually‑beneficial dialogue (called ‘good offices’). This raises awareness of the Guidelines and helps resolve issues raised in complaints.
Watch the OECD’s video for an overview of NCPs.