ASA 2021-2 (September 2021) |
Explanatory Statement
ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events
Issued by the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board
Obtaining a Copy of this Explanatory Statement
This Explanatory Statement is available on the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) website: www.auasb.gov.au
Contact Details
Auditing and Assurance Standards Board Podium Level 14, 530 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 AUSTRALIA | Phone: (03) 8080 7400 E-mail: enquiries@auasb.gov.au Postal Address: PO Box 204, Collins Street West Melbourne Victoria 8007 AUSTRALIA |
Reasons for Issuing Auditing Standard ASA 2021-2
The AUASB issues Auditing Standard ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events pursuant to the requirements of the legislative provisions and the Strategic Direction explained below.
The AUASB is a non corporate Commonwealth entity of the Australian Government established under section 227A of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, as amended (ASIC Act). Under section 336 of the Corporations Act 2001, the AUASB may make Auditing Standards for the purposes of the corporations legislation. These Auditing Standards are legislative instruments under the Legislation Act 2003.
Under the Strategic Direction given to the AUASB by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the AUASB is required, inter alia, to develop auditing standards that have a clear public interest focus and are of the highest quality.
Purpose of Auditing Standard ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events
The purpose of the Auditing Standard is to make amendments to the requirements and application and other explanatory material of the following Auditing Standard:
ASA 560 Subsequent Events (Issued October 2009 and amended to December 2015)
Main Features
This Auditing Standard is being amended to achieve harmonisation with ISA (NZ) 560 Subsequent Events which was amended in February 2020. This Auditing Standard makes amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events made under Section 336 of the Corporations Act 2001 to clarify the timing of communications and possible actions the auditor may take when facts become known to the auditor after the financial report has been issued that, had it been known to the auditor at the date of the auditor’s report, may have caused the auditor to amend the auditor’s report.
Operative Date
ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events is operative for financial reporting periods commencing on or after 15 December 2021.
Process of making Australian Auditing Standards
The AUASB’s Strategic Direction, inter alia, provides that the AUASB develop Australian Auditing Standards that:
- have a clear public interest focus and are of the highest quality;
- use the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) as the underlying standards;
- conform with the Australian regulatory environment; and
- are capable of enforcement.
Consultation Process prior to issuing the Auditing Standard
The AUASB has consulted publicly as part of its due process in developing the Auditing Standard. Exposure Draft ED 03/21 Proposed Auditing Standard ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events was issued on 30 June 2021 with a 30-day comment period.
Submissions were received by the AUASB and these were considered as part of the development and finalisation of the Auditing Standard.
Regulatory Impact Statement
A Regulatory Impact Statement (RIA) has been prepared in connection with the preparation of ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events. The RIA has been cleared by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR).
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 Legislative Instrument: Auditing Standard ASA 2021-2 Amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent EventsThis Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011. Overview of the Legislative InstrumentBackground The AUASB is an independent statutory committee of the Australian Government established under section 227A of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, as amended (ASIC Act). Under section 336 of the Corporations Act 2001, the AUASB may make Auditing Standards for the purposes of the corporations legislation. These Auditing Standards are legislative instruments under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. Purpose of Auditing Standard ASA 2021-2 The purpose of ASA 2021-2 is to make amendments to the requirements and application and other explanatory material of the following Auditing Standard: ASA 560 Subsequent Events (Issued October 2009 and amended to December 2015) Main Features ASA 2021-2 is being amended to achieve harmonisation with ISA (NZ) 560 Subsequent Events which was amended in February 2020. This Auditing Standard makes amendments to Australian Auditing Standard ASA 560 Subsequent Events made under Section 336 of the Corporations Act 2001 to clarify the timing of communications and possible actions the auditor may take when facts become known to the auditor after the financial report has been issued that, had it been known to the auditor at the date of the auditor’s report, may have caused the auditor to amend the auditor’s report. Human Rights ImplicationsAustralian Auditing Standards are issued by the AUASB in furtherance of the objective of facilitating the Australian economy. The standards do not diminish or limit any of the applicable human rights or freedoms, and thus do not raise any human rights issues. Conclusion This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues. |