ASX Announcement - National releases Template for Half Year Results and AIFRS Transition Report

National will report its results for the six months ended 31 March 2006 on Thursday 11 May 2006.  These will be reported for the first time under Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS).

In order to assist users with the task of interpreting the way comparative information will be presented, a template for the results  announcement is being released today.  This template will provide the intended format of the results announcement, together with comparative financial information prepared on an AIFRS basis.  It will also include details of the accounting policies that have been adopted by National under AIFRS from 1 October 2005.

An AIFRS_Transition_Report  is being released together with the template.  This will include explanatory information relating to the AIFRS transition, including reconciliations of previously reported financial results, balance sheet reconciliations and other key areas of AIFRS focus for the March 2006 result.

For further information:

Brandon Phillips
Group Manager, External Relations
T  03 8641 3857
M  0419 369 058
 
Hany Messieh
Head of Investor Relations
T  03 8641 2312
M  0414 446 876

Kim Lovely
External Relations Manager
T  03 8641 4982
M  0406 035 243