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Assets policy

Version number 1.2 | Version effective 23 December 2025
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Assets policy

Audience

Department wide

Purpose

To ensure the consistent recognition, identification, safeguarding and recording of assets across the department.

Policy statement

Assets are property, plant or equipment, inventory, right-of-use and intangible assets that are owned by the department and have a future economic value that can be measured reliably.

The department recognises, manages, and reports assets in accordance with legislation, Australian Accounting Standards and Queensland Government policy.

Principles

Principle

What this means for the department

Accountability

The department assesses, recognises and reports assets promptly and accurately and in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards.

The department will apply the provisions of the Financial Accountability Handbook, in particular, Information Sheet 3.8 - Property, plant and equipment systems to implement an effective asset management system and will manage risks through preventative and detective controls.

The department will comply with all relevant reporting requirements in the Financial Reporting Requirements for Queensland Government Agencies (FRRs) and Non-current asset policies for the Queensland Public Sector (NCAP).

Effectiveness

Assets are used in accordance with departmental objectives and controls.

Performance

Assets are managed to maximise the delivery of the department's services.

Sustainability

The department proactively manages its current and future asset requirements.

Requirements

  • Assets are reported, disclosed and recognised as per the Financial Reporting Requirements for Queensland Government agencies (FRRs), Non-current asset policies for the Queensland Public Sector (NCAP) and relevant Australian Accounting Standards.
  • Acquisition of assets must be in accordance with the Expenditure policy.
  • Approval must be sought prior to entering a lease arrangement.
  • A comprehensive physical revaluation of land, building and heritage and cultural assets must be performed at five yearly intervals.
  • A physical stocktake of plant and equipment and portable and attractive assets is conducted at least annually.
  • An annual impairment test must be performed on land and buildings and software assets to ensure the carrying value of an asset does not exceed its recoverable amount.
  • Assets are used only for authorised and permitted purposes.
  • Assets are safeguarded to minimise losses from both internal and external events.
  • Disposal of assets must be approved in accordance with the Finance delegations.

Definitions

Term

Definition

Carrying value

Cost of an asset less accumulated amount of depreciation or amortisation.

Future economic benefit

Potential to contribute, directly or indirectly, to the flow of cash, or used to provide goods and services that contribute to the department’s objectives.

Fair value

The price that would be received to sell an asset between market participants at the measurement date.

Impairment test

Assessment used to determine whether the asset's recoverable amount exceeds the carrying value.

Intangible asset

An asset that is not physical in nature, for example, software or intellectual property.

Property, plant and equipment assets

Assets that are physical in nature, for example land, buildings and equipment used in the delivery of the department's services.

Recoverable amount

Asset's fair value (market value) less costs of disposal.

Rent-free lease

An agreement developed in law as a lease for which there is not a stipulated rental payment or where the rental payment meets the minimum consideration required in law to validate a contract ($1 per annum). This is also commonly known as a 'peppercorn lease'.

Revaluation

Process to accurately recognise the fair value of capital assets owned by the department.

Right-of-use asset

Any lease arrangement through which the department has gained the right to use an underlying asset controlled by an external entity for a specified period of time.

Legislation

Delegations/Authorisations

Other resources

Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations, in particular:

  • AASB 3 Business Combinations
  • AASB 5 Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
  • AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement
  • AASB 16 Leases
  • AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements
  • AASB 108: Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors
  • AASB 111 Construction Contracts
  • AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment
  • AASB 123: Borrowing Costs
  • AASB 136 Impairment of Assets
  • AASB 138 Intangible Assets
  • AASB 1004 Contributions
  • AASB 1049 Whole of Government and General Government Sector Financial Reporting
  • AASB 1059: Service Concession Arrangements: Grantors
  • Interpretation 132 Intangible Assets - Web Site Costs
  • Interpretation 1030 Depreciation of Long-Lived Physical Assets: Condition-based Depreciation and Related Methods
  • Interpretation 1038 Contributions by Owners Made to Wholly-Owned Public Sector Entities

Superseded versions

Previous seven years shown. Minor version updates not included.

1.0 Assets policy

Review date

25 February 2024
Attribution CC BY

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