Treasurer's Directions

Treasurer's Directions (TDs) specify the practices and procedures to be observed by accountable officers in the financial management of their agencies.

A key component of the Northern Territory Government's Financial Management and Accountability Framework (FMAF) PDF (155.9 KB), TDs are mandatory for all agencies subject to the Financial Management Act 1995.

To assist agencies to comply with the TDs, non-mandatory guidance documents have been developed by Treasury. They provide best practice guidelines and should be read in conjunction with the TDs.

TDs and guidance documents can be accessed by clicking on the topics below.

Framework

Sets the financial and performance management framework under which Agencies operate, the legislative basis, and key definitions used in the Treasurer's Directions.

Central Holding Authority

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
F2.2 Central Holding Authority 40.5 KB	March 2006

Legislative structure

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Part 1 - Section 1 Introduction 28.3 KB	May 1996
Part 1 - Section 2 Definitions 28.1 KB	June 1998

Organisational performance and accountability

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Organisational performance and accountability 60.1 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document - Budget Paper No.3 Key Performance Indicators 278.8 KB	November 2022

Establishes the requirements for the accounting treatment and recording of transactions to assist agencies in complying with the Financial Management Act 1995, Financial Management Regulations, Australian Accounting Standards, and any other financial management related requirements.

Introduction

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
A1.1 Accrual Accounting 64.5 KB	March 2006
A1.3 Standard Classification Codes 38.9 KB Supporting document/s: A1.3 Standard Classification Codes – Appendix A 179.5 KB	July 2023
A1.4 Corporate Systems 36.1 KB	March 2006

Income

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Income 68.0 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document – Income 680.1 KB Guidance document - Accounting for Territory Income 136.5 KB Revenue Recognition Assessment Checklist 40.1 KB	February 2020

Expense

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
A6.1 Overview 45.2 KB	March 2006
A6.2 Employee Benefits 74.4 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	August 2006
A6.3 General Expenses 63.2 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	December 2010
Grants and subsidies expenses 99.1 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document: Grants and subsidies expenses 959.8 KB Guidance document: Accounting for grants and subsidies expenses 666.6 KB	August 2025

Assets

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
A2.1 Overview 53.0 KB	March 2006
Non-financial assets (effective 1 July 2024) 102.9 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance documents Non-financial assets 1.2 MB Guidance documents Revaluations 773.4 KB Guidance documents Impairment of assets 743.2 KB Roles and responsibilities 25.8 KB ABS Indices for interim revaluation assessment 19.0 KB	May 2024
A2.6 Cash 38.0 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	March 2006
A2.7 Receivables 60.9 KB Supporting document/s: Policy brief - Crimes victim assistance 114.8 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	June 2006
A2.8 Inventory 71.5 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	March 2006
A2.9 Prepayments 30.5 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	June 2006

Liabilities

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Treasurer's Directions - Leases 63.1 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document - Leases 1.2 MB AASB 16 Lease assessment checklist 71.2 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	June 2021
A3.1 Overview 62.5 KB	February 2010
A3.2 Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses 35.9 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	June 2006
A3.3 Provisions 54.5 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	February 2010
A3.4 Employee Benefits 80.8 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	January 2017
A3.7 Contingent Liabilities 50.7 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	February 2010

Equity

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
A4.1 Overview 37.5 KB	March 2006
A4.2 Owner Actions 67.7 KB Reference: Australian Accounting Standards Board	March 2006

Budget and monitoring

Outlines the budget development and management principles and processes, output hierarchy and performance reporting arrangements; and provides agencies with requirements for the development of the Territory's Infrastructure Program.

Carryovers

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Treasurers Direction - Carryovers 63.7 KB Supporting document/s: Frequently Asked Questions - Carryovers 137.8 KB	November 2022

Infrastructure

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Treasurer's Direction - Infrastructure 258.0 KB Supporting document/s: Treasurer's Direction - Infrastructure - Appendix A 56.9 KB Guidance document - Infrastructure 1.0 MB	March 2025

Treasurer's advance

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Treasurers Direction - Treasurer's advance 58.5 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance Document – Treasurer’s advance 694.4 KB	April 2021

Financial reporting

Specifies financial reporting requirements for Territory agencies, government business divisions and whole-of-government.

Financial reporting

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Classification of the functions of government – Australia (COFOG-A) 96.2 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 405.6 KB COFOG-A Definitions 85.7 KB Reference: AGFS15 Manual	June 2018
Part 2 Section 3 Government Financial Reporting 12.8 KB	May 1995
R2.1 Agency Financial Statements 1.0 MB Supporting document/s: End of Financial Year processes guide 687.0 KB Guidance Document - AASB 9 Financial Instruments 152.0 KB Related party disclosures 915.5 KB	April 2026
R3.1 GBD Financial Statements 45.6 KB	June 2010

Governance, risk management and compliance

Determines governance, risk management and compliance requirements, to support the implementation of good financial management practices.

Commonwealth funding agreements

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Commonwealth funding agreements 175.7 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 335.6 KB Appendix A - Federation Funding Agreements Framework 292.4 KB Appendix B - Commonwealth funding agreement development, negotiation and approval processes 156.2 KB Appendix C - Commonwealth funding agreement risk assessment 88.8 KB Appendix D - Commonwealth funding agreement negotiation principles 258.2 KB Reference: https://federalfinancialrelations.gov.au/intergovernmental-agreement-federal-financial-relations	May 2024

Disaster recovery funding arrangements

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Disaster recovery funding arrangements 85.9 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 1.0 MB	July 2019

Financial controlling interests

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Equity investments 202.4 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 680.8 KB	June 2019

Fraud control

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Fraud control 61.1 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 951.4 KB Frequently asked questions 62.3 KB	May 2021

Funds management

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Loans and advances 56.6 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 770.7 KB	June 2019
C1.1 Overview 73.2 KB	July 2019
C2.1 Central Banking Arrangements 68.8 KB	June 2016
C2.2 Bank Accounts 71.5 KB	June 2016
C3.1 Receipting 71.3 KB	June 2016
C3.2 Payments 68.7 KB	August 2023
C3.3 Corporate Credit Cards 75.1 KB	June 2016
Part 2 Section 2 Trust Money 13.3 KB	May 1995
Losses, write offs, waivers and postponements and appendices (effective 1 July 2024) 872.9 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance documents and attachments - Losses, write offs, waivers and postponements 1.3 MB	May 2024
Part 5 Section 6 Advances 11.0 KB	May 1995

Gifting of property

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Gifting of property 611.9 KB Supporting document/s: Flow charts 1.6 MB Frequently asked questions 704.7 KB	July 2021

Guarantees and indemnities

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Treasurers Direction Guarantees and Indemnities 64.1 KB Supporting document/s: Appendix A Treasurers Direction Guarantees and Indemnities 63.4 KB Appendix B Treasurers Direction Guarantees and Indemnities 58.4 KB	May 2024
M2.2 Surety Bonds and Bank Guarantees 59.9 KB	November 2023

Information and communications technology (ICT)

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
ICT1.1 Governance Overview 392.1 KB	July 2015
ICT1.2 ICT Policies and Standards 85.9 KB	July 2015
ICT1.3 Governance Principles 50.5 KB	July 2015
ICT1.4 Agency ICT Governance 53.7 KB	July 2015
ICT2.1 ICT Investment 49.9 KB	July 2015
ICT3.1 Project Management 124.4 KB	July 2015

Insurance arrangements

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Treasurers Direction Insurance arrangements 72.9 KB Supporting document/s: Appendix A Treasurers Direction Insurance arrangements 45.1 KB Appendix B Treasurers Direction Insurance arrangements 44.0 KB Appendix C Entities and third parties approved for inclusion under the NTG self-insurance 990.7 KB Commercial insurance approval 61.6 KB	December 2024

Internal controls

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Part 3 Section 1 Accountable Officers 23.8 KB	May 1995
Part 3 Section 2 Internal Audit 11.2 KB	May 1995
Part 3 Section 3 Audit Committees 15.4 KB	September 2001
Part 3 Section 7 Accountable Forms 12.3 KB	May 1995
G2.2 Internal Control 155.7 KB	February 2011

Legal and statutory arrangements

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Part 6 Section 2 Legal and Statutory Arrangements 15.0 KB	May 1995

Machinery of government changes

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Machinery of government changes 62.1 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance Document – Machinery of government changes 671.8 KB Appendix A – Budget Transfer Agreement 15.4 KB Appendix B – Machinery of government cheat sheet 98.7 KB	August 2024

Tax

Treasurer's Directions	Last reviewed
Commonwealth taxes 54.5 KB	March 2019
Northern Territory tax equivalent regime and dividend policy 56.3 KB Supporting document/s: Guidance document 192.6 KB	June 2019

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