There have been some changes to the treatment of data in this year's report and these changes have been highlighted and explained.

This report is based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which is a widely-used, standardised sustainability reporting framework. The summarised performance of the Wesfarmers Group is contained in this section, and more detailed information on the divisions is available in their sections of this report. In addition, as noted through the report, available on our website including base data and other information, is our statement of assurance against the GRI criteria.

Wesfarmers focuses on operating its businesses for the long-term without the distraction of relatively short-term forecasts. In this sense we set very few public targets for future performance in the area of sustainability, preferring to be judged on performance, but the listing of material issues for our businesses will guide the reader to those issues we believe are most important in the long-term.