Improving the Credibility of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures. There is increasing demand for disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and a desire to improve their credibility. This study will provide insights into the types of reporting and assurance that can be provided. In addition, it will examine the extent to which users are influenced by the greenhouse gas disclosures and assurance provided. As such, this research will provide an important knowledge base in determ ....Improving the Credibility of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disclosures. There is increasing demand for disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions around the world, and a desire to improve their credibility. This study will provide insights into the types of reporting and assurance that can be provided. In addition, it will examine the extent to which users are influenced by the greenhouse gas disclosures and assurance provided. As such, this research will provide an important knowledge base in determining the appropriate focus of future reporting and assurance in this area. It is expected that this research will inform the development of an international and Australian assurance standard on greenhouse gas emissions.Read moreRead less
Corporate governance, corporate disclosure policies and the timeliness of price discovery: How competitive is the Australian equity market? This project will help reduce the economic cost of poor corporate governance. It will facilitate more liquid financial markets and potentially it will increase the number and value of worthwhile investment opportunities by lowering the cost to finance them. It will assess Australia's competitive standing in the world's equity markets and establish whether ou ....Corporate governance, corporate disclosure policies and the timeliness of price discovery: How competitive is the Australian equity market? This project will help reduce the economic cost of poor corporate governance. It will facilitate more liquid financial markets and potentially it will increase the number and value of worthwhile investment opportunities by lowering the cost to finance them. It will assess Australia's competitive standing in the world's equity markets and establish whether our market is indeed transparent and a good place to raise risk capital. It will add needed credibility to corporate governance regulation. And it will enhance Australia's standing in the international research community because its research methods can be applied to almost any public capital market.Read moreRead less
InformationTechnology (IT) Audit Methodologies in the Australian Public Sector: Addressing Mandatory Requirements of International Standards. The primary benefit occurs in relation to National Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, notably Priority Goal 'Smart Information Use', as it will enable more sophisticated and accurate assessments of current IT audit methodologies. In turn, these improvements will enable more effective IT audits by ....InformationTechnology (IT) Audit Methodologies in the Australian Public Sector: Addressing Mandatory Requirements of International Standards. The primary benefit occurs in relation to National Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, notably Priority Goal 'Smart Information Use', as it will enable more sophisticated and accurate assessments of current IT audit methodologies. In turn, these improvements will enable more effective IT audits by government audit offices in Australia, bringing reduced risk and increased efficiency to organisations subject to audit, as well as increasing conformance with the new accounting and auditing standards. Furthermore, all Australian citizens, (the indirect clients of public sector audit services), will benefit from well-managed program-delivery systems.Read moreRead less
Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against reco ....Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against recognised benchmarks especially International Accounting Standards and to evaluate the significance of factors associated with differences in disclosure levels. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for Australian standard setters as well as the IASB, IOSCO and the World Bank.Read moreRead less
Consistency of going concern audit report modifications over time, audit firms and countries. This research has both national and international benefits. Evidence of the consistency of the going concern audit reporting decision over time and by audit firms in Australia is important to financial report users. Further, an examination of audit reporting behaviour across countries contributes to international convergence. Without consistent application, the benefits of convergence decrease and trans ....Consistency of going concern audit report modifications over time, audit firms and countries. This research has both national and international benefits. Evidence of the consistency of the going concern audit reporting decision over time and by audit firms in Australia is important to financial report users. Further, an examination of audit reporting behaviour across countries contributes to international convergence. Without consistent application, the benefits of convergence decrease and transactions costs and information risk increase. Australia has a policy of international convergence and it is important that Australian representatives have input into the standard-setting process and policy and research supporting these standards both nationally and internationally. The research team can have this input.Read moreRead less
Evaluating regulatory initiatives directed at audit firms to improve audit quality. This project will provide evidence as to whether recent regulatory initiatives are improving the quality of audits and provide a comparison of benefits associated with audit firm inspections under differing regulatory schemes. It will inform discussion as to whether these initiatives overcome identified problems in audit quality of listed companies.
Impacts of International Financial Reporting Standards adoption on cost of equity capital, financial statement value-relevance, and firms' financing and investment strategies. The project's insights will assist policy makers to assess, progress and promote approaches to global economic and governance policy reforms. AIFRS adoption disturbs the financial markets equilibria previously struck under Australian accounting standards. Understanding this impact helps underpin micro- and macro- economi ....Impacts of International Financial Reporting Standards adoption on cost of equity capital, financial statement value-relevance, and firms' financing and investment strategies. The project's insights will assist policy makers to assess, progress and promote approaches to global economic and governance policy reforms. AIFRS adoption disturbs the financial markets equilibria previously struck under Australian accounting standards. Understanding this impact helps underpin micro- and macro- economic strategies and policy developments relying upon the role of financial reporting. It also assists capital markets to adapt to the new reporting environment, thus increasing capital allocation effectiveness and efficiency.
Australia's position as an early IFRS adopting nation enables the project to facilitate Australia's international leadership in global economic policy development. Read moreRead less
Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance with and impact of changing standards. The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess w ....Global convergence to International Financial Reporting Standards : factors explaining compliance with and impact of changing standards. The major benefit of this research is that it assesses the extent to which Australia's epoch-making switch to International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 has been successful in practice relative to similar developments in the EU and elsewhere. Further, the research measures the actual quantitative impact of the change in accounting standards to assess whether or not the change has been significant from the standpoint of making international comparisons of Australian corporate performance. Thus important evidence is provided about the outcomes of Australia's global convergence initiative, how we compare with our major trading partners, and the key change factors involved.Read moreRead less
Do Converged International Auditing Standards Result in Converged International Auditor Behaviour? This research has both national and international benefits. International convergence of standards is beneficial as it reduces costs incurred in understanding and evaluating variations in national auditing standards. However, if auditor behaviour does not converge under converged standards, such benefits are reduced, and costs and information risk are increased. Australia has a policy of internatio ....Do Converged International Auditing Standards Result in Converged International Auditor Behaviour? This research has both national and international benefits. International convergence of standards is beneficial as it reduces costs incurred in understanding and evaluating variations in national auditing standards. However, if auditor behaviour does not converge under converged standards, such benefits are reduced, and costs and information risk are increased. Australia has a policy of international convergence by 2005, and it is important that Australian representatives have input into the standard-setting process, and policy and research supporting these standards. Simnett, being the academic on the international standard-setting body, is in a unique position to directly provide this input, and improve the quality of these standards. Read moreRead less