Standards in State Library Victoria

Guide to Australian manufacturing standards, accounting standards, food code, building code and design rules

Australian Accounting Standards

The Australian Accounting Standards Board is responsible for developing and issuing Accounting Standards (AASBs) applicable to Australian entities as well as the “care and maintenance” of the body of standards.

The Board's functions and powers are set out in the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001.

The nature and terminology surrounding documents related to accounting practice can be complex; “standards”, "interpretations", “guides”, “guidelines” or “statements”. For example, there are accounting standards, auditing standards, auditing guidance statements, audit guides. The information below specifically relates to accounting standards.

Accessing current standards

The AASB website lists the current AASB Standards, Interpretations and Statement of Accounting Concepts.

Accessing older standards 

The original series of Australian Accounting Standards (known as AASs) were issued by the Australian Accounting Research Foundation (AARF), followed by the Accounting Standards Review Board (ASRB) prior to 2000. Most AASs were replaced by AASB Accounting Standards in the reporting period beginning on or after 1 January 2005.

Previous versions of AASB standards can be found by browsing the pronouncements via the website and selecting the 'Standard' option and 'No' to most recent version. 

Historical standards are also held by the Library: 

AAS 1… AAS 38; issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB), they are numbered as AAS 1 (date), for example AAS1 (October 1999)

ASRB 1001...  issued by the Accounting Standards Review Board.

AASB 1001…also issued by AASB; these and the AAS sequences are now old and incorporated into one new sequence; becoming  AASB.xx

To get an idea of holdings you can search the catalogue for Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Accounting Standards Review Board as 'Author/Creator'.