This is really disturbing; at a time of PI into Financial System...

This is really disturbing; at a time of PI into Financial System (Aus) still continuing:

Reported by AAP; 9 News; Finance;
Monday, April 28, 2014

Some of Australia's biggest banks are reviewing their lending activities in developing countries in the wake of a report linking them to companies accused of illegal land grabs.

Oxfam Australia has accused the big four banks - Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, National Australia Bank and ANZ - of backing companies that have contributed to illegal logging, forced evictions, food shortages and child labour.

"From PNG and Cambodia to Indonesia and Brazil, our banks have backed companies accused of forcing people from their land," Oxfam Australia chief executive Helen Szoke said.
Australian Responsible Investors Association chief executive Simon O'Connor said the report highlighted the risks for Australian companies investing in developing countries.

"These allegations, whether proven or not, contain lessons for corporate Australia as to precisely the nature of this new risk landscape and how challenging these risks are to manage," he said.

The banks would not comment on their relationships with companies mentioned in the report but emphasised their commitment to ethical lending practices.