The ‘NZ’ in 'NZ IFRS': Public Benefit Entity Amendments
Australian Accounting Review Forum, Vol. 18, No. 46, pp. 185-190, 2008
6 Pages Posted: 10 Nov 2009
Date Written: 2008
Abstract
In 1992, New Zealand adopted a sector-neutral approach to standard setting – where the difference in accounting treatment is driven by differences in the nature of transactions and not by ownership or the objectives of the reporting entity. This study reviews the impact of adaptations of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to ensure their successful application in a sector-neural environment. A fundamental question of the move to IFRS is whether the public benefit entity amendments in NZ IFRS have contaminated the IFRS for profit-orientated entities or diluted the available guidance for public benefit entities. This suggests that it is worthwhile for Australia and New Zealand to monitor and reconsider their sector-neutral approach to adopting IFRS.
Keywords: sector neutral, public sector, IFRS
JEL Classification: M40
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation