Our broad portfolio of diversified businesses now includes retail operations covering supermarkets, general merchandise and specialty department stores, fuel and liquor outlets and office supplies in addition to our existing home improvement business. Wesfarmers' industrial operations include coal mining, chemicals and fertilisers, gas processing and distribution, energy generation, and industrial and safety product distribution. We also operate a significant insurance business.

In each of these businesses there are a broad range of sustainability challenges and in this report we seek to bring these together in an accurate and comprehensive overview of how we sustainably manage our operations.

In late 2007 we completed the acquisition of the former Coles Group of companies, which considerably expanded the scale and nature of our retail operations in Australia and New Zealand.

In addition, it brought a range of sustainability challenges that are new to Wesfarmers and more opportunities to further improve Wesfarmers sustainable business policies and outcomes.

As explained in this report, we are in the process of integrating the sustainability practices of the former Coles Group of businesses into the existing Wesfarmers sustainability reporting structure. Where possible, we have reported on the performance of these businesses over the full year, including the period not under our ownership.