In the final episode of The Third Wheel for 2024, Tim Stutt and Mel Debenham reflect on the year’s ESG developments and look ahead to 2025. They discuss the recent governmental response to the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth); the winding path of nature positive reforms in Australia; preparations ahead of the first year of reporting under the new climate reporting regime; and the growing focus on nature-related disclosures. The episode closes with their thoughts on a possible pendulum swing towards greater scrutiny of proposed ESG regulations moving forward, as regulatory fatigue sets in and having regard to changes in sentiment locally and abroad.


About The Third Wheel

Each episode, Partners Timothy Stutt and Melanie Debenham are joined by an expert third wheel guest to explore the issues from their unique perspectives.

Mel is an expert on business-critical environment, planning, heritage and native title regulation in Australia. Tim specialises in ESG from a corporate governance perspective, including market disclosure, risk management and shareholder engagement/activism.

We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands Mel and Tim are recording from, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation in Perth and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation in Sydney. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this country.

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Timothy Stutt Melanie Debenham