Objectives of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)

ARPANSA is an Australian Government controlled not-for-profit entity. It is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The objectives of ARPANSA are to: protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation.

The entity is structured to meet one outcome:

'Protection of people and the environment through radiation protection and nuclear safety research, policy, advice, codes, standards, services and regulation.'

The continued existence of the entity in its present form and with its present programs is dependent on Government policy and on continuing funding by Parliament for the entity’s administration and programs.

ARPANSA's activities contributing toward the outcome are classified as departmental. Departmental activities involve the use of assets, liabilities, income and expenses controlled or incurred by the entity in its own right.

Basis of preparation of the financial report

The financial statements are general purpose financial statements and are required by section 42 of the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

The financial statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with:

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

b) Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations - Reduced Disclosure Requirements issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) that apply for the reporting period.

The financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis and are in accordance with historical cost convention, except for certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Except where stated, no allowance is made for the effect of changing prices on the results or the financial position. The financial statements are presented in Australian dollars.

Accounting judgements and estimates

In the process of applying the accounting policies listed in this note, ARPANSA have made the following judgements that have the most significant impact on the amounts recorded in the financial statements:

• The fair value of land and buildings is taken to be the market value and depreciated replacement cost respectively as determined by an independent valuer.
• The long service leave liability is calculated using the shorthand method developed by the Australian Government Actuary. This method is impacted by fluctuations in the Commonwealth Government 10 year Treasury bond rate and the Entity's estimated salary growth rates.

No accounting assumptions or estimates have been identified that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next accounting period.

New Australian Accounting Standard

All new/revised/amending standards and/or interpretations that were issued prior to the sign-off date and are applicable to the current reporting period did not have a material effect on ARPANSA's financial statements.

Taxation

The entity is exempt from all forms of taxation except Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of GST, except:
a) where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office
b) for receivables and payables.

Events after the reporting period

There have been no significant subsequent events after the reporting period that impact on the financial statement for the year ended 30 June 2019.