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Federal
Non-corporate Commonwealth Entity
Finance and Treasury

Office of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

Portfolio: Treasury

http://www.auasb.gov.au

Annual Budget

$4M

2026-27 Budget (Budget Paper No. 4)
+9.7%vs prior year ($4M)
Total Revenue

$5M

2024-25 Total Revenue
Staff

20

Headcount (2024-25)
Budget Commentary

Material upward shift in 2026-27 funding (+9.7%, $0M change). 2025-26 estimated actual $4M → 2026-27 budget $4M. Source: Budget Paper No. 4, Agency Resourcing tables.

Major Digital Projects
17

Big Data, Timely Insights (BDTI)

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Tier 1
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$225M

Digital Budget

$133.1M

July 2023June 2030

BDTI Phase 2 provides a pathway off legacy ICT systems, ensuring the Australian Bureau of Statistics maximises the reuse of new tools and lessons across the organisation. The project involves rebuilding and securing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) ICT system, delivering a complete monthly measure of the CPI, building the business statistics production process in the cloud, replacing the legacy Business Register with an expanded Business Characteristics Asset in the cloud, and industrialising the Australian Bureau of Statistics cloud environment. At the time of preparing this report, this project is subject to the escalation protocols set out in the Assurance Framework for Digital and ICT Investments. These protocols are designed to support agencies in the timely resolution of delivery challenges.

Counter Fraud Program (Protecting against fraud and strengthening system integrity)

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 1
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$187M

Digital Budget

$68.4M

July 2024June 2028

The Counter Fraud Program will strengthen the Australian Taxation Office’s ability to prevent, detect, contain and bring consequence to fraud and financial crime against the tax and superannuation systems.

Foreign Investment Digital Transformation (FIDT) Program

Department of the Treasury

Tier 1
DCA: Medium
Closed

Total Budget

$70M

Digital Budget

$68.8M

September 2020June 2025

The Treasury is undertaking a transformation program to support the government’s foreign investment framework and replace the current Foreign Investment Management System. This program will deliver a fully functional end-to-end case management system, a register of foreign ownership of Australian assets, and an improved analytics capability. On 25 June 2025, the FIDT Program was formally closed following the successful delivery of all approved program outcomes. As part of the program closure, Treasury successfully transitioned the capabilities into ongoing sustainment and support.

Payday Super Program

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 1
DCA: Medium-Low
Active

Total Budget

$403.3M

Digital Budget

$262.2M

September 2024June 2028

The Payday Super project will address the systemic issue of unpaid and underpaid super guarantee by employers, by moving the obligation to pay from a quarterly to payday cycle. The Australian Taxation Office is building and improving data matching capabilities to match employers’ payroll data with super contribution data, providing it with near real-time visibility as to whether employers have met their obligations. The government will also redesign the super guarantee legislation in line with the move to payday super. Penalties and charges will reflect the serious nature of unpaid or underpaid super guarantee and will be recalibrated to encourage prompt rectification of non-payment with scalable consequences to deter severe or repeated non-compliance. At the time of preparing this report, this project is subject to the escalation protocols set out in the Assurance Framework for Digital and ICT Investments. These protocols are designed to support agencies in the timely resolution of delivery challenges. The delivery confidence of the program has improved following the passage of legislation in November 2025.

RegistryConnect Program

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Tier 1
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$361.5M

Digital Budget

$288.4M

November 2023June 2030

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) RegistryConnect Program will deliver reliable, secure, trusted and efficient registry services to support the economy for the benefit of all Australians. The program’s objectives include: stabilising Registry technology to increase the security, reliability and performance of ASIC registers; modernising and uplifting the registers, user channels and interfaces; improving the quality and integrity of registry data; achieving policy and law reform; and developing enduring capabilities.

2026 Census - Addressing Risks and Delivering a High Quality, Trusted Census

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Tier 2
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$726M

Digital Budget

$164.4M

January 2022December 2027

The Census and Statistics Act 1905 requires the Australian Bureau of Statistics to conduct a Census every 5 years. The Census provides the base for official counts of Australians and the dwellings they live in. It is a snapshot of the economic, social and cultural make-up of the nation, and tells the story of how Australia is changing over time.

Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions (BTSC)

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 2
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$51.4M

Digital Budget

$28.6M

July 2023September 2027

The BTSC measure aims to reduce tax concessions for individuals with a total superannuation balance exceeding $3 million, effective from 1 July 2026. This project is enabling the delivery of this measure with first assessments expected to be issued in the second half of 2027–28.

Cyber Digital Transformation X (Cyber DTx)

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Tier 2
DCA: Medium
Active

Total Budget

$45.5M

Digital Budget

$45.5M

July 2024June 2028

The Cyber DTx Initiative will enhance existing cyber capabilities to secure ASIC’s existing and future networks, systems and data. The program will deliver a range of capabilities that secure ASIC regulatory systems and uplift maturity against the Cyber Essential Eight Maturity Model.

Data Acquisition Modernisation Program

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Tier 2
DCA: Medium
Active

Total Budget

$98.1M

Digital Budget

$50.8M

January 2025June 2027

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Data Acquisition Modernisation program aims to: • improve the digital experience for key surveys and allow for modern, accessible, and secure data collection processes • transform and modernise the Australian Bureau of Statistics contact centre to improve the experience for our customers and staff • continue to modernise and replace legacy IT systems by transitioning key products and processes to a secure and scalable cloud environment.

Data and Technology Program – Governance Uplift and Investment in Data Enablement (GUIDE)

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

Tier 2
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$73.2M

Digital Budget

$38M

July 2024June 2028

The GUIDE program is a multi-year strategic investment in data capabilities and security position of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), including APRA’s supervision management system. By investing in data governance, security and infrastructure, the program aims to ensure that APRA can continue to effectively fulfil its mandate, mitigate risks and support the stability and resilience of the Australian financial system.

Implementation of a Global and Domestic Minimum Tax (Pillar 2)

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 2
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$110.5M

Digital Budget

$33.6M

July 2023June 2028

The Global Minimum Tax and Domestic Minimum Tax are part of a coordinated effort to address tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. Australia, along with more than 130 other jurisdictions, agreed to a statement that set out the framework for Pillar 2 (the Global Anti-Base Erosion [GloBE] Model Rules). Implementing Pillar 2 will further strengthen Australia’s ability to address multinational tax avoidance. The investment provides the Australian Taxation Office with the means to ensure resources are available for the ICT and data requirements to implement and administer this measure, as well as ensuring a strong ongoing compliance, advice and education focus to support the in-scope population. At the time of preparing this report, this project is subject to the escalation protocols set out in the Assurance Framework for Digital and ICT Investments. These protocols are designed to support agencies in the timely resolution of delivery challenges.

Modernisation of Tax Administration systems (MTAS)

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 2
DCA: Medium
Active

Total Budget

$87.9M

Digital Budget

$69.7M

January 2025June 2029

Improvements to Australian Taxation Office systems will reduce compliance costs on an ongoing basis for trustees, beneficiaries and tax agents – making lodgement easier and enabling the vast majority of trust tax returns to be lodged electronically. The improvements will also enable prefill of trust income for beneficiaries, in the same way salary and wages, bank interest and other types of income are currently prefilled. Prefill capability will be enhanced by proposed legislative amendments that require trustees to report the Tax File Numbers of beneficiaries on the trust income tax return’s Statement of Distribution when they have an entitlement to trust income.

National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC)

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Tier 2
DCA: Medium
Active

Total Budget

$80.5M

Digital Budget

$42.7M

July 2023June 2026

The NASC is a world-leading initiative to make Australia the hardest country for scammers to victimise citizens in. It will disincentivise scammers from targeting Australia and result in significantly less scam attempts.

Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$12M

Digital Budget

$2M

June 2024December 2029

The Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive were announced in the 2024–25 Budget under the measure, Future Made in Australia – Making Australia a Renewable Energy Superpower. The Australian Taxation Office is responsible for assessing tax claims under this project, including assessing payment eligibility, and processing tax payments, in consultation with Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Cyber Security Program (previously Building Cyber Resilience)

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$136.4M

Digital Budget

$136.4M

January 2018December 2026

The program focuses on uplifting Cyber Essential Eight Maturity to Level 2, providing fit-for-purpose security services to protect the Australian Taxation Office’s digital ecosystem. The program’s outcomes will increase the Australian Taxation Office’s cyber maturity by delivering enhanced cyber capabilities and technologies.

Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive

Australian Taxation Office

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$9.5M

Digital Budget

$4.8M

June 2024December 2029

The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive were announced in the 2024–25 Budget under the measure, Future Made in Australia – Making Australia a Renewable Energy Superpower. The Australian Taxation Office is responsible for assessing tax claims under this project, including assessing payment eligibility, and processing tax payments, in consultation with the Clean Energy Regulator.

Payment Times Reporting Scheme (PTRS) - ICT Infrastructure rebuild

Department of the Treasury

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$8.9M

Digital Budget

$8.9M

July 2024June 2026

This ICT infrastructure rebuild supports improved reporting following reforms to the Payment Times Reporting Scheme. A modern portal will streamline and reduce the regulatory burden of reporting, and the public will be able to search and interrogate payment times information, including the best and worst paying large businesses using new dashboards. Increasing the transparency of large businesses’ payment performance towards their small business suppliers can incentivise fairer and faster payments to small business.

Ideas relevant to this department

8 tagged

Reform proposals on YourGov that name this department as a delivery partner — drawn from citizen voice, government strategy, research, international examples and gap analysis.

STRATEGY SUMMARY

Contribute to stakeholder confidence in: • the Australian economy, including its capital markets, • external reporting • enhanced credibility of external reporting through independent auditing and assurance by: AASB AUASB Developing, issuing and Developing, issuing and maintaining in maintaining principles-based the public interest, Australian auditing Australian accounting and and assurance standards and guidance external reporting standards and guidance that aid in reducing the cost of capital and guidance that meet user and enable Australian entities to needs and enhance external compete effectively, both domestically reporting consistency and and internationally, by enhancing audit quality. and assurance consistency and quality. [CP p. 13]

PURPOSE

Contribute to stakeholder confidence in: • the Australian economy, including its capital markets, • external reporting • enhanced credibility of external reporting through independent auditing and assurance by: AASB AUASB Developing, issuing and Developing, issuing and maintaining in maintaining principles-based the public interest, Australian auditing Australian accounting and and assurance standards and guidance external reporting standards and guidance that aid in reducing the cost of capital and guidance that meet user and enable Australian entities to needs and enhance external compete effectively, both domestically reporting consistency and and internationally, by enhancing audit quality. and assurance consistency and quality. [CP p. 13]

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.13

Strategic priorities

· 7

1

Develop, issue and maintain principles-based, Australian accounting and reporting standards and guidance that meet the n

Develop, issue and maintain principles-based, Australian accounting and reporting standards and guidance that meet the needs of external report users (including financial reports) and are capable of being assured and enforced. For ‘publicly accountable1’ entities maintain IFRS2 compliance; for others, use IFRS Standards (where they exist), and transaction neutrality (modified as necessary), or develop Australian-specific standards and guidance.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14
2

Play a leading role in the reshaping of the Australian external reporting environment by working with standard setters a

Play a leading role in the reshaping of the Australian external reporting environment by working with standard setters and regulators to set requirements proportionate to user needs and costs to preparers.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14
3

Actively influence IASB4, ISSB5, IPSASB6 standards and other international accounting and external reporting standards a

Actively influence IASB4, ISSB5, IPSASB6 standards and other international accounting and external reporting standards and guidance, by demonstrating thought leadership and enhancing key international relationships.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14
4

Attain significant levels of key stakeholder engagement, through collaboration, partnerships and outreach.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14
5

Influence initiatives to develop standards and guidance that meet user needs for external reporting integral to financia

Influence initiatives to develop standards and guidance that meet user needs for external reporting integral to financial reporting.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14
6

Monitor and respond to, or lead on, emerging issues impacting the development of accounting and external reporting stand

Monitor and respond to, or lead on, emerging issues impacting the development of accounting and external reporting standards, including changing technologies.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14
7

Develop guidance and education initiatives, or - promote development by others, to enhance the consistent application of

Develop guidance and education initiatives, or - promote development by others, to enhance the consistent application of accounting and external reporting standards and guidance.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.14

Outcomes

· 1

Outcome 1: Develop a conceptual framework, not having the force of legislation, to facilitate the Australian economy by reducing the cost of capital; enable Australian entities to compete effectively; and maintain investor confidence in the Australian economy, including capital markets.

Develop a conceptual framework, not having the force of legislation, to facilitate the Australian economy by reducing the cost of capital; enable Australian entities to compete effectively; and maintain investor confidence in the Australian economy, including capital markets. [CP p. 51]

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Develop, issue and maintain principles-based, Australian accounting and reporting standards and guidance that meet the needs of external report users (including financial reports) and are capable of being assured and enforced. For ‘publicly accountable1’ entities maintain IFRS2 compliance; for others, use IFRS Standards (where they exist), and transaction neutrality (modified as necessary), or develop Australian-specific standards and guidance.
  • With the AUASB, play a leading role in reshaping the Australian external reporting framework by working with regulators to develop objective criteria on: • who prepares external reports (including financial reports) • the nature and extent of assurance required on these external reports.

Values

· 6

transparency

comparability

accountability

reliability

comparability

high quality independent assurance

Performance measures

· 4

CodeMeasureTarget 2025-26Latest resultStatus

PBS Outcome 1

Build and maintain strong international relationships with the IAASB and likeminded National Auditing Standards Setters (“NSS”) on common global and other projects relevant to the AUASB work program

Collaborate with the IAASB and likeminded Global and National Auditing Standards Setters (“NSS”) on common global and other projects relevant to the AUASB work program

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.47

Board papers for AUASB meetings to be available on the AUASB website a week in advance, and draft Board Minutes are sent to AUASB members within two weeks of each AUASB meeting.

Achieved

PBS Outcome 1

Demonstrate the AUASB’s influence on major international auditing and assurance developments

AUASB Chair member of IAASB/IESBA Stakeholder Advisory Council and IAASB National Standard Setters group

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.47

Board papers for AUASB meetings to be available on the AUASB website a week in advance, and draft Board Minutes are sent to AUASB members within two weeks of each AUASB meeting.

Achieved

PBS Outcome 1

Provide input to the international standard setting process through responding to international pronouncements using input from Australian stakeholders

Responses to each IAASB Exposure Draft or Discussion Paper developed with appropriate AUASB input and sent to the IAASB by the closing date

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.48

Board papers for AUASB meetings to be available on the AUASB website a week in advance, and draft Board Minutes are sent to AUASB members within two weeks of each AUASB meeting.

Achieved

PBS Outcome 1

Maintain harmonisation of auditing and assurance standards in Australia and New Zealand in accordance with relevant agreements and protocols

Chair of AUASB is member of NZAuASB and Chair of NZAuASB is member of AUASB.

Corporate Plan 2025-26 · p.48

Board papers for AUASB meetings to be available on the AUASB website a week in advance, and draft Board Minutes are sent to AUASB members within two weeks of each AUASB meeting.

Achieved

Ideas distilled from this entity's strategy & evidence

· 8

Regulation & Policy

Streamline Standard Review Process

Implement a more efficient review process for accounting standards, reducing time to finalise revisions.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Strategy & Reform

Expand International Collaboration

Form strategic partnerships with international auditing bodies to enhance global influence and standard setting.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2025-26.pdf

Data & Performance

Integrate Advanced Technology

Adopt advanced technologies like AI for data analysis in standard setting to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Large

association-worldbank.org-governance.txt

Citizen Participation

Enhance Stakeholder Engagement

Increase engagement with stakeholders through regular feedback sessions and collaborative workshops.

Impact: High
Effort: Medium
Medium

2025-26.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Harmonise Audit Standards with NZ

Work towards harmonising auditing standards with New Zealand to streamline cross-border operations.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Large

2025-26.pdf

Capability Building

Develop Training Program for Staff

Create a comprehensive training program to upskill staff in new technologies and methodologies.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2025-26.pdf

Strategy & Reform

Revise International Strategy

Revise the international strategy to enhance the Board’s influence on global accounting standards.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2025-26.pdf

Data & Performance

Develop Performance Dashboard

Create a performance dashboard to provide real-time insights into the Board’s operational efficiency.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Streamline Standard Review Process

Implement a more efficient review process for accounting standards, reducing time to finalise revisions.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Strategy & Reform

Expand International Collaboration

Form strategic partnerships with international auditing bodies to enhance global influence and standard setting.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2025-26.pdf

Data & Performance

Integrate Advanced Technology

Adopt advanced technologies like AI for data analysis in standard setting to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Large

association-worldbank.org-governance.txt

Citizen Participation

Enhance Stakeholder Engagement

Increase engagement with stakeholders through regular feedback sessions and collaborative workshops.

Impact: High
Effort: Medium
Medium

2025-26.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Harmonise Audit Standards with NZ

Work towards harmonising auditing standards with New Zealand to streamline cross-border operations.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Large

2025-26.pdf

Capability Building

Develop Training Program for Staff

Create a comprehensive training program to upskill staff in new technologies and methodologies.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2025-26.pdf

Strategy & Reform

Revise International Strategy

Revise the international strategy to enhance the Board’s influence on global accounting standards.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2025-26.pdf

Data & Performance

Develop Performance Dashboard

Create a performance dashboard to provide real-time insights into the Board’s operational efficiency.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Legislation administered

· 4

Act

2001

Corporations Act 2001

The entity administers accounting and auditing standards under this Act.

Act

2001

Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001

The entity has statutory functions under this Act.

Standards

various

Australian Accounting Standards

The entity develops and maintains Australian accounting standards.

Standards

various

Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards

The entity develops and maintains Australian auditing and assurance standards.

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