Telecommunications, energy and insurance
Started by Larry Kestelman and Michael Slepoy in Melbourne in 2001, Dodo provides services for internet, mobile phone, telephone, electricity and gas, insurance products and alarm monitoring, predominantly to residential customers. Sold to M2 Group Limited for AU$250m in 2013. M2 Group subsequently merged with Vocus Communications Ltd in February 2016 and the merged companies took the Vocus name.
Company Ownership
Dodo Services Pty Ltd
AUS
Vocus Group Ltd
owns 100% of Dodo Services Pty Ltd
AUS
Telecommunication service provider
Founded in 2007, they provide internet, fibre, data centres and unified communications across Australia and New Zealand. They merged with Amcom Telecommunications Ltd in 2015, combining a west coast company with the east coast based Vocus. They then merged as equals with telecommunications reseller, M2 Group, in February 2016 making the merged company Australia's fourth largest telco. M2 brought consumer brands (iPrimus, Slingshot, Orcon and Dodo), business brands (Commander, CallPlus and 2Talk) and wholesale brands (M2, CallPlus) to the merger. The Dodo brand also includes gas and electricity. Vocus operated under brands Vocus, Engin, Flip and Amnet. Vocus announced the acquisition of national fibre network company, Nextgen Networks in June 2016. Acquired by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) and Aware Super, who formed a consortium called Voyage Australia Pty Limited for this acquisition in 2021.
Macquarie Group Ltd
owns 50% of Vocus Group Ltd
AUS
Financial services
One of the few Australian owned investment banks.
Aware Super Pty Ltd
owns 50% of Vocus Group Ltd
AUS
Superannuation
Australia's second largest superannuation fund, with $130bn under management following the merger between First State Super, VicSuper and WA Super in 2020.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2026)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Dodo Services Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
2/5 in Green Electricity Guide
The 2022 Greenpeace Green Electricity Guide ranked 47 Australian electricity retailers based on their environmental credentials, assessing factors like renewable energy provision, commitment to ending coal use by 2030, halting fossil fuel expansion, support for new renewable energy, and transparency. This provider was rated in the middle of the pack, with only 2 stars: "often buys their electricity straight from the open market, which is dominated by coal, and aren't moving quickly enough to transition to renewable energy."
Source: Greanpeace
(2022)
Misleading conduct
In 2024 this company paid $82,500 in penalties after the ACCC issued six infringement notices to Dodo for alleged contraventions of the Electricity Retail Code of Conduct. Dodo also paid a penalty of $20,000 to the AER in 2020 for failing to promptly appoint a Metering Coordinator, and $37,800 in 2019 in relation to alleged misleading claims about discounts on energy plans.
Source: ACCC
(2024)
Fined $407k for hardship breaches
In 2025 Dodo paid six infringement notices totalling $406,800 issued by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) for alleged breaches of the National Energy Retail Rules (the Retail Rules) that protect consumers experiencing hardship and payment difficulties. AER's investigation identified concerns about Dodo's compliance systems and processes for its hardship, payment plan and direct debit practices.
Fined $825k for service payment failures
In 2025 this company paid penalties totalling $825,472 for allegedly breaching Victorian energy rules related to guaranteed service level payments and self-reporting. The Essential Services Commission gathered evidence that between May 2022 and February 2024, Dodo Power & Gas failed to credit 1,325 guaranteed service level payments to customers within the required timeframes. The late payments affected 978 customers and totalled more than $130,000.
Vocus Group Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
4/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2025 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2025)
Fined $2.5m for misleading claims
In 2021, after an ACCC investigation, the Federal Court ordered Dodo and iPrimus to pay $2.5m for misleading NBN speed claims. Dodo and iPrimus, both part of the Vocus Group, admitted that their 'typical evening speed' claims made between March 2018 and April 2019 were misleading because they were not based on an appropriate testing methodology.
Source: ACCC
(2021)
Political donations
The democracyforsale.net website, which aggregates data from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), reports that this company donated $47,500 to Australia's major political parties between 2018 and 2023. To view this company's entry in the AEC's Transparency Register, follow the link and click on "Named on the following annual returns as providing funds to:" to see the political donations made by the company.
Source: AEC
(2024)
Social impact claims
This company has social impact claims on its website in the areas of community support, environment, policy statements and sustainability reports.
Source: company website
(2021)
Macquarie Group Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
CDP Climate Change score of B
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of B.
Source: CDP
(2023)
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2024 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 100 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX100). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of A.
Source: Monash University
(2024)
100% on Corporate Equality Index
This company received a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index 2025, a benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees in the USA.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
(2025)
Financing dirty fossil fuel
Banks play a critical role in enabling and sustaining fossil fuel projects. Macquarie Bank loaned $2.6 billion to dirty fossil fuel projects between 2008 and 2016.
Source: Market Forces
(2016)
4.7% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This financial institution received a score of 4.7%.
Source: Forest 500
(2023)
Financing nuclear weapons producers
The 2018 update of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons' (ICAN) global report, "Don't Bank on the Bomb" showed that 329 financial institutions from around the world invested into 20 companies involved in the production, maintenance and modernization of nuclear weapons. Since 2014 this financial institution invested over US$1.5 billion into 7 of the 20 nuclear weapons producers named in the report.
Source: ICAN
(2018)
22.4% in Financial System Benchmark
The 2025 Financial System Benchmark ranks 400 financial institutions across five distinct measurement areas: Strategy, governance and stewardship, Financing climate and nature protection and restoration, Environmental footprints, Inclusive finance and Responsible business conduct. This company ranked #65/400, with a total score of 22.4 out of 100. The average score was 12.2 and the highest score was 43.
Renewable energy use
Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030. However they have not invested in on-site solar, and have not signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project.
Source: Greenpeace
(2021)
Political donations
The democracyforsale.net website, which aggregates data from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), reports that this company donated $2,253,780 to Australia's major political parties between 2018 and 2023. To view this company's entry in the AEC's Transparency Register, follow the link and click on "Named on the following annual returns as providing funds to:" to see the political donations made by the company.
Source: AEC
(2024)
CitySwitch member
CitySwitch members act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible and then ensure hard-to-avoid emissions are balanced by offsets.
Source: CitySwitch
(2025)
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: commit to 100% renewable power.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
Tax paying in Australia
Between 2015 and 2018 this company paid $490 million tax on a total income of $27 billion, earning the number 30 spot on Michael West's Top 40 Tax Payers 2020. West calculated which of Australia's largest companies have paid the most tax using three years of tax transparency data published by the Australian Tax Office.
Source: Michael West
(2018)
28% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 28 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
27.8% in Social Benchmark
The 2026 Social Benchmark assessed the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company received a score of 27.8/100. The average score was 20 and the highest score was 75.
Medium ESG Risk
Sustainalytics, a top ESG research firm, evaluates environmental, social, and governance risks for over 16,000 companies. Its ESG Risk Rating reflects how much risk a company faces in its industry and how well it manages those risks. The final score includes both unmanaged and unmanageable risks, and companies are rated on a scale from negligible (0-10) to severe (40+). This company received an ESG Risk Rating of 22.7, placing it in the "medium risk" category (retrieved April 2025).
Source: Sustainalytics
(2025)
BankTrack profile
BankTrack is a global network of civil society organisations and individuals tracking the operations of the banking sector and the activities they finance. BankTrack aims to promote fundamental changes in the banking sector so that banks adopt just and sustainable business practices. Follow the link to see this bank's profile.
Source: BankTrack
(2018)
Aware Super Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
Carbon neutral company
Climate Active is an Australian Government program that supports voluntary climate action by certifying businesses and organisations that measure, reduce, and offset their carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality. Aware Super is certified for its business operations.
Source: Climate Active
(2025)
1.9% in Social Benchmark
The 2026 Social Benchmark assessed the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company received a score of 1.9/100. The average score was 20 and the highest score was 75.
12.6% in Financial System Benchmark
The 2025 Financial System Benchmark ranks 400 financial institutions across five distinct measurement areas: Strategy, governance and stewardship, Financing climate and nature protection and restoration, Environmental footprints, Inclusive finance and Responsible business conduct. This company ranked #172/400, with a total score of 12.6 out of 100. The average score was 12.2 and the highest score was 43.
Employer of Choice for Gender Equality
This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.
Source: WGEA
(2025)
23% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 23 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Contact Details
Address:
Level 10, 452 Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Phone:
03 9868 9900
Freecall:
13 36 36
Website: