ADB Review

Question

Senator SHARMA: Last year, media here reported that five ADB projects had been awarded to a conglomerate-TBEA, I believe it is-which has close ties with US sanctioned entities in Xinjiang and reportedly taken part in surplus labour transfers in China, so companies with significant modern slavery or human rights concerns. How did the government respond to those? Mr Isbister: I think you're referring to a project in the power sector in Papua New Guinea. Senator SHARMA: I'm not sure where it was. Mr Isbister: If it's the one you're referring to-TBEA, Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock. We're aware of the articles. We raised them with the ADB, including through our executive director, and asked them to consider on the issues. We've also asked the ADB and are working with them on strengthening the environment and social safeguards framework, which is taking into effect January this year as a result of the improvement. This has been an issue, obviously. Not alone but with the US and a range of other countries we're looking at how, with the issue around environmental social safeguards, particularly in terms of the issues around solar panels and others, we have confidence in relation to the supply chains and such that are put in place. But, yes, it was acted on both in terms of in Papua New Guinea but also with the executive director and the board in Manila. Senator SHARMA: Did we ask the ADB to undertake a review into this? Mr Isbister: We asked them to take a review into it, but also worked with them on strengthening the environmental social safeguards framework, which they've done. That was taken into effect from January. Senator SHARMA: What did this review find, though? Mr Isbister: The reviewers still, I think, haven't got back the findings in relation to what they've identified on it. I think, as you can imagine, one of the things that the ADB does is-it is a challenge, as it is for many companies-is being able to have contractors agree and tick the box and comply that none of the equipment they produce or sources is from issues of modern slavery. But for the ADB it is often, like it is for others, difficult to be able to then verify the elements of it. Certainly we've asked them to come back and let us know what the outcome of that review is. Senator SHARMA: When would we expect to get the outcome of that review? Mr Isbister: I'll take it on notice and come back to you.

Answer

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Documents

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