Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au F2021L01788 Rules Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Finance

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability

(Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021

Section 101 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) provides that the Finance Minister may make rules by legislative instrument to prescribe matters giving effect to this Act.

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 (the Amending Rule) amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015 (FRR), which prescribes the financial reporting requirements for Commonwealth entities. Both rules are legislative instruments for the purpose of the Legislation Act 2003.

 

Other Legislative Provisions

The FRR sets out the requirements for preparation of financial statements in accordance with the following legislative provisions:

  • subsection 42(2) of the PGPA Act prescribes that annual financial statements must:
    • comply with accounting standards and any other requirements prescribed by the rules
    • present fairly the entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows
  • subsection 47(1) of the High Court of Australia Act 1979  prescribes the financial statements reporting requirements of the High Court of Australia
  • subsections 50B(2) and (4) of the Defence Service Homes Act 1918 prescribe the financial statements reporting requirements of the Defence Service Homes Corporation
  • subsections 43(1) and (3) of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 prescribe the financial statements reporting requirements of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Account
  • Division 4 of Part 2-3 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (PGPA Rule) prescribes how financial statements must be prepared for Commonwealth entities that have ceased to exist or whose functions have been transferred.

A number of FRR provisions are made for the purpose of subsection 102(1)(b) of the PGPA Act, which prescribes that provisions may be made for the Commonwealth and Commonwealth entities to ensure or promote proper accountability for the use and management of public resources.

 

2021-22 Amendments

For the 2021-22 financial reporting period, the following changes to the FRR have been made:

  • Additional disclosure requirements regarding leases and contracts with customers to ensure that the integrity of the whole of government financial reporting process is maintained following reduced disclosure requirements introduced by AASB 1060 General Purpose Financial Statements – Simplified Disclosures for For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Tier 2 Entities.
  • Removal of specific listed Tier 1 reporting requirements for one entity (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment).
  • Clarification of the methodologies that can be used when estimating an entity’s long service leave liability (for entities with less than or equal to 1,000 full-time equivalent employees).
  • A new disclosure requirement regarding regulatory charging activities to ensure consistency with the requirements of the Australian Government Charging Framework.
  • Clarification of disclosures required for adjustments made to current and prior years annual appropriations under sections 74 and 75 of the PGPA Act.
  • Clarification of disclosures required for current and prior years annual appropriations withheld under section 51 of the PGPA Act or quarantined for administrative reasons.

 

The accounting standards referred to are incorporated as in force from time to time as per the definition in the PGPA Act. Accounting standards can be found at www.aasb.gov.au.

 

Retrospectivity and Timing

The retrospective commencement date of the Amending Rule does not adversely affect the rights of persons or otherwise impose liabilities, other than onto the Commonwealth or Commonwealth entities, and as such, does not contravene subsection 12(2) of the Legislation Act 2003.

A retrospective commencement date has historically been used for financial reporting purposes as this ensures that changes are applicable in the same reporting period in which the amendments are made.

For reporting periods commencing before 1 July 2021, these amendments to the FRR are not applicable.

 

Consultation

The Department of Finance worked with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel in drafting the Amending Rule.

The Amending Rule was developed in consultation with the Australian National Audit Office and all Commonwealth reporting entities.

 


Attachments

Details of the Amending Rule for reporting periods commencing on or after 1 July 2021 are set out at Attachment A.

The Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights as required by the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 is at Attachment B.

Attachment A

Details of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021

Section 1 – Name of rule

This section provides that the title of the instrument is the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 (the Amending Rule).

Section 2 – Commencement

This section provides that each provision of the instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table.

The entire instrument commences on the day after the Amending Rule is registered.

Section 3 – Authority

This section states that the Amending Rule is made under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act).

Section 4 – Schedules

This section provides that each legislative instrument that is specified in a Schedule to the Amending Rule is amended or repealed as set out, and that any item in a Schedule to this instrument operates or is applied as specified in the Schedule.

Schedule 1 – Amendments

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015

Item 1 – Subsection 3(2)

Item 1 amends the reporting period to commence on or after 1 July 2021.

Item 2 – Subsection 18(1A)

Item 2  amends the subsection to include an additional subsection that reporting entities are subject to when applying AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards.

Item 3 – Subsection 18(1)

Item 3 amends the subsection to include an additional subsection that reporting entities are subject to when applying AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards.

Item 4 – Subsection 18(2)

Item 4 adds a new subsection requiring all reporting entities to apply Tier 1 reporting requirements when applying AASB 16 Leases. This is required to ensure the integrity of the whole of government financial reporting process following reduced lease disclosure requirements introduced by AASB 1060 General Purpose Financial Statements – Simplified Disclosures for For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Tier 2 Entities.

Item 5 – Subsection 18(2)

Item 5 amends the numbering of the subsection, with no substantial changes made.

Item 6 – Subsection 18(3)

Item 6 amends the numbering of the subsection, with no substantial changes made.

Item 7 – Subsection 18(3)(table item 2A)

Item 7 removes one reporting entity from the table (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment). This entity is no longer subject to Tier 1 reporting requirements for the listed matters.

Item 8 – Paragraphs 24(1)(a) and (b)

Item 8 reorders the paragraphs and requires that reporting entities with less than or equal to 1,000 full-time equivalent employees must use either the shorthand method (as per the Commonwealth Entities Financial Statements Guide), an actuarial assessment, or a detailed calculation basis (e.g. employee by employee) when calculating the entity’s long service leave liability.

Item 9 – Paragraph 34A(2)(aa)

Item 9 adds a new paragraph before paragraph 34A(2)(a) requiring reporting entities to disclose a list of the regulatory charging activities in the regulatory charging note included in the entity’s financial statements.

Item 10 – Section 34C

Item 10 deletes the reference to ‘Lease maturity analysis under AASB 16 Leases’ in the title of this section and substitutes the title of the section for ‘Contracts with customers’.

Item 10 removes requirements relating to lease maturity analysis. These requirements are now redundant due to changes detailed in Item 4 requiring all reporting entities to apply Tier 1 reporting requirements when applying AASB 16 Leases.

Item 10 amends the section to add disclosure requirements to ensure the integrity of the whole of government financial reporting process is maintained following reduced disclosure requirements introduced by AASB 1060 General Purpose Financial Statements – Simplified Disclosures for For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Tier 2 Entities.

Item 11 – Paragraph 43(2)(b)

Item 11 amends the paragraph to clarify the requirement for reporting entities to disclose PGPA Act section 74 adjustments made to current year annual appropriations in the annual appropriations note.


Item 12 – Paragraph 43(4)(a)

Item 12 amends the paragraph to clarify that the requirements are for current year annual appropriations.

Item 13 – Section 45

Item 14 adds five new subsections to clarify disclosure requirements for prior year unspent annual appropriations.

 


Attachment B

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

 

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021

 

This Disallowable 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 Disallowable Legislative Instrument

Section 101 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) provides that the Finance Minister may make rules by legislative instrument to prescribe matters giving effect to this Act.

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015 (FRR). Both rules are legislative instruments for the purpose of the Legislation Act 2003.

 

Other legislative provisions

The FRR sets out the requirements for preparation of financial statements under the following legislative provisions:

  • subsection 42(2) of the PGPA Act prescribes that annual financial statements must:
    • comply with accounting standards and any other requirements prescribed by the rules
    • present fairly the entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows
  • subsection 47(1) of the High Court of Australia Act 1979  prescribes the financial statements reporting requirements of the High Court of Australia
  • subsections 50B(2) and (4) of the Defence Service Homes Act 1918 prescribe the financial statements reporting requirements of the Defence Service Homes Corporation
  • subsections 43(1) and (3) of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 prescribe the financial statements reporting requirements of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Account
  • Division 4 of Part 2-3 of the PGPA Rule prescribes how financial statements must be prepared for Commonwealth entities that have ceased to exist or whose functions have been transferred.

Some provisions of the FRR are made for the purpose of subsection 102(1)(b) of the PGPA Act, which prescribes that provisions may be made for the Commonwealth and Commonwealth entities to ensure or promote proper accountability for the use and management of public resources.

 

Human rights implications

  1. The amendments do not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms outlined in the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, such as encompassed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
  2. The proposed amendments do not limit any human rights, nor propose any offences or penalties. 
  3. This disallowable legislative instrument is therefore compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in subsection 3(1) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Conclusion

This Disallowable Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

 

Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham

Minister for Finance

Overview

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 were enacted by the Australian Government to amend the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015. These amendments were introduced to address the need for enhanced disclosure requirements and clarifications in the financial reporting process for Commonwealth entities. The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) empowers the Minister for Finance to make these rules, which aim to ensure proper accountability for the use and management of public resources. The rules were developed in consultation with the Australian National Audit Office and all Commonwealth reporting entities to ensure alignment with the financial reporting requirements prescribed under various legislative provisions, including the PGPA Act, the High Court of Australia Act 1979, the Defence Service Homes Act 1918, and the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997. The amendments introduced by these rules are intended to maintain the integrity of the whole of government financial reporting process, especially in response to reduced disclosure requirements introduced by the Australian Accounting Standards Board. The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 were issued under the authority of the Minister for Finance and aim to refine the financial reporting standards for Commonwealth entities. The rules introduce additional disclosure requirements for leases and contracts with customers, clarify methodologies for estimating long service leave liabilities, and introduce new disclosures regarding regulatory charging activities. The rules also clarify disclosures for adjustments made to annual appropriations and for appropriations that have been withheld or quarantined. These amendments ensure that the financial reporting standards remain robust and transparent, thereby upholding the principles of proper accountability for the use and management of public resources as mandated by the PGPA Act. The rules do not contravene the human rights as recognised in the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, thereby maintaining compatibility with recognised human rights.

Scope and Application

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 is a legislative instrument made under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The Amending Rules amend the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015 to update financial reporting requirements for Commonwealth entities, ensuring the integrity of the whole of government financial reporting process. These rules apply to all Commonwealth entities, including the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, which is exempt from specific Tier 1 reporting requirements. The amendments include additional disclosure requirements regarding leases and contracts with customers, clarification of methodologies for estimating long service leave liabilities for entities with fewer than or equal to 1,000 full-time equivalent employees, a new disclosure requirement regarding regulatory charging activities, and clarifications for adjustments made to current and prior years' annual appropriations. The retrospective commencement of these rules ensures that changes are applicable in the same reporting period in which the amendments are made, without adversely affecting the rights of persons or imposing liabilities other than onto the Commonwealth or Commonwealth entities. The rules do not contravene the Legislation Act 2003 and are compatible with human rights as outlined in the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Key Provisions

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021, which amend the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015, introduce various changes effective from the 2021-22 financial reporting period. Section 18(2) of the amended rules mandates that all reporting entities apply Tier 1 reporting requirements when applying AASB 16 Leases to ensure the integrity of the whole of government financial reporting process, following the reduced disclosure requirements introduced by AASB 1060. Additionally, section 18(2) now requires entities with less than or equal to 1,000 full-time equivalent employees to use either the shorthand method, an actuarial assessment, or a detailed calculation basis when estimating their long service leave liability. There is also a new disclosure requirement regarding regulatory charging activities, which must be included in the regulatory charging note of the entity's financial statements. The rules also clarify the methodologies for estimating long service leave liability and provide further clarity on the disclosure requirements for adjustments made to current and prior years' annual appropriations. The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 impose specific obligations on Commonwealth entities regarding the preparation and disclosure of financial statements. These obligations include applying Tier 1 reporting requirements for leases, disclosing regulatory charging activities, and providing clear disclosures for adjustments to annual appropriations. The rules mandate that all reporting entities comply with accounting standards and any other requirements prescribed by the rules, ensuring that annual financial statements present fairly the entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Furthermore, the rules require entities to comply with specific legislative provisions related to the High Court of Australia, Defence Service Homes Corporation, and the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia. The obligations also extend to entities that have ceased to exist or whose functions have been transferred, as prescribed by the PGPA Rule. The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Rules 2021 do not introduce any new offences or penalties for breaches. However, failure to comply with the financial reporting requirements set out in the amended rules may result in non-compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. Such non-compliance may lead to potential scrutiny, investigation, or corrective actions by relevant authorities. Although specific penalties are not outlined in the rules, non-compliance with financial reporting obligations can lead to significant consequences, including reputational damage and potential legal action. The rules ensure that Commonwealth entities adhere to the prescribed financial reporting standards and obligations, thereby maintaining the integrity and transparency of financial reporting within the public sector.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.