5512.0 - Government Finance Statistics, Australia, 2002-03  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/04/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication presents government finance statistics (GFS) on an accrual accounting basis for each jurisdiction for general government, non-financial public sector and total public sector as follows:

  • Operating statements for 2002-03;
  • Cash flow statements for 2002-03; and
  • Balance sheets at 30 June 2003.

Also included in this publication are total general government expenses by purpose for 2002-03.

The Public Finance Section of the ABS is currently reviewing the content and layout of this publication and its two related publications Taxation Revenue, Australia (Cat. no. 5506.0) and Education Statistics (Cat. no. 5518.0.55.001) and welcomes feedback from users. Comments can be provided to Jonathan Sim, Assistant Director, Public Finance Section on (02) 6252 5735 or email <jonathan.sim@abs.gov.au>.

Users interested in more recent quaterly GFS data should consult Government Finance Statistics, Australia, Quarterly (Cat. no. 5519.0.55.001), which was released for the first time on 17 March 2004.

ABOUT THIS ISSUE

This issue contains data for general government, non-financial public sector and total public sector. Due to space constraints, tables relating to public non-financial corporations and public financial corporations are not included. The data for the public non-financial corporation and public financial corporation sectors can be accessed from AusStats (at www.abs.gov.au).

While every attempt is made to use audited data in the compilation of this publication, audited 2002-03 Western Australia state government data were unavailable in time for the compilation of this publication. With the agreement of Western Australia Treasury, unaudited data was used for this publication.

TERMINOLOGY

Within government finance statistics (GFS), the consolidated total of transactions of the general government, public non-financial corporations and public financial corporations sectors is referred to as the total public sector.


Wherever the term 'state' is used, this term includes the two territories. Therefore 'state and local' refers to 'state, territory and local' and 'state' refers to 'state and territory'.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


ACCRUAL OPERATING RESULTS

The GFS net operating balance for all levels of government in 2002-03 was $11,467 million and $12,736 million for the general government sector and total public sector respectively. In the same year, GFS net lending was $8,425 million and $7,100 million for the two sectors respectively.


The following table shows these two measures and other GFS operating statement major aggregates across the various levels of government by sector in 2002-03.

OPERATING RESULTS-2002-03

General
Government
Non-
financial
Public
Sector
Total
Public
Sector
$m
$m
$m

All levels of government
GFS Revenue
286,586
328,540
336,296
GFS Expenses
275,120
314,835
323,560
GFS Net Operating Balance
11,467
13,705
12,736
Net acquisition of non-financial assets
3,042
5,589
5,636
GFS Net Lending(+)/Borrowing(-)
8,425
8,116
7,100
Commonwealth Government
GFS Revenue
206,189
225,877
227,713
GFS Expenses
199,978
218,214
220,606
GFS Net Operating Balance
6,212
7,663
7,107
Net acquisition of non-financial assets
-219
-755
-743
GFS Net Lending(+)/Borrowing(-)
6,430
8,418
7,850
State and local governments
GFS Revenue
129,911
151,952
157,910
GFS Expenses
124,149
145,553
151,915
GFS Net Operating Balance
5,762
6,399
5,995
Net acquisition of non-financial assets
3,117
6,224
6,259
GFS Net Lending(+)/Borrowing(-)
2,646
175
-264
Multi-jurisdictional(a)
GFS Revenue
11,651
12,036
12,036
GFS Expenses
11,376
11,630
11,630
GFS Net Operating Balance
275
406
406
Net acquisition of non-financial assets
144
120
120
GFS Net Lending(+)/Borrowing(-)
131
286
286

(a) The multi-jurisdictional sector contains units where jurisdiction is shared between two or more governments, or classification of a unit to a jurisdiction is otherwise unclear. The main type of units currently falling into this category are the public universities.

CASH OPERATING RESULTS

In 2002-03 the general government sector and total public sector, for all levels of government, recorded surpluses of $11,134 million and $11,464 million respectively.


The following table presents the surplus/deficit results for each jurisdiction for 2002-03 for general government, the non-financial public sector and the total public sector.

CASH OPERATING RESULTS-2002-03

General Government
Non-financial Public Sector
Total Public Sector
$m
$m
$m

SURPLUS(+)/DEFICIT(-)

Commonwealth government
7,404
8,504
7,932
State and local governments
New South Wales
2,309
1,978
2,149
Victoria
-177
-689
141
Queensland
1,070
311
760
South Australia
612
587
351
Western Australia
325
-27
107
Tasmania
303
297
409
Northern Territory
-50
-10
22
Australian Capital Territory
254
289
289
Total
4,635
2,732
4,228
Multi-jurisdictional(a)
205
403
403
Total
11,134
10,534
11,464

(a) The multi-jurisdictional sector contains units where jurisdiction is shared between two or more governments, or classification of a unit to a jurisdiction is otherwise unclear. The main type of units currently falling into this category are public universities.



BALANCE SHEET RESULTS

GFS net worth reflects the contribution of governments to the wealth of Australia. The consolidated net worth as at 30 June 2003 for the general government sector for all levels of government was $444,790 million. The consolidated net worth for the total public sector was $402,279 million.

The following table presents selected balance sheet aggregates for the general government, the non-financial public sector and the total public sectors as at 30 June 2003 across the various levels of government.

BALANCE SHEET RESULTS-AT 30 JUNE 2003

General
Government
Non-financial Public Sector
Total
Public
Sector
$m
$m
$m

All levels of Australian government
Total assets
764,530
821,305
917,872
Total liabilities
319,741
389,526
486,334
Shares and other contributed capital
-
29,501
29,259
GFS Net worth
444,790
402,279
402,279
Commonwealth government
Total assets
146,104
151,755
199,855
Total liabilities
192,410
212,016
260,356
Shares and other contributed capital
-
28,685
28,445
GFS Net worth
-46,307
-88,945
-88,945
State and local governments
Total assets
596,814
646,492
699,780
Total liabilities
128,280
177,950
231,239
GFS Net worth
468,534
468,543
468,543
Multi-jurisdictional(a)
Total assets
28,817
30,484
30,484
Total liabilities
6,255
6,987
6,987
GFS Net worth
22,563
22,681
22,681

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) The multi-jurisdictional sector contains units where jurisdiction is shared between two or more governments, or classification of a unit to a jurisdiction is otherwise unclear. The main type of units currently falling into this category are public universities.


The following graph shows the total public sector GFS net worth as at 30 June 2003 as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) for the Commonwealth and individual state and local jurisdictions.

GFS NET WORTH AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP
Graph - Net Worth as Percentage of GDP




EXPENSES BY PURPOSE

The following table shows general government expenses by selected purpose categories by level of government for 2002-03.

EXPENSES BY SELECTED PURPOSES-2002-03

All levels of government
Commonwealth government
State and
local
governments
Multi-
jurisdictional(a)
$m
$m
$m
$m

Social security and welfare
77,376
71,262
7,882
-
Health
47,597
29,400
26,963
-
Education
41,004
12,109
29,095
11,194
General public services
16,406
10,736
6,571
142
Public debt transactions(b)
15,821
10,300
5,696
39
Transport and communications
15,438
2,174
14,552
-
Defence
13,307
13,307
-
-
Public order and safety
13,095
1,966
11,215
-
Housing and community amenities
9,228
1,769
8,553
-
Other economic affairs
7,085
3,801
3,300
-
Recreation and culture
7,281
2,059
5,258
-
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
4,138
1,771
2,540
-
Fuel and energy
4,298
3,395
935
-
Mining, manufacturing and construction
2,156
1,502
655
-
Other
888
34,429
934
-
Total
275,120
199,978
124,149
11,376

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) The multi-jurisdictional sector contains units where jurisdiction is shared between two or more governments, or classification of a unit to a jurisdiction is otherwise unclear. The main type of units currently falling into this category are the public universities.
(b) Includes nominal interest on superannuation.


The following graph shows the main general government expenses by purpose for all Australian governments for 2002-03 as a percentage of GDP.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSES BY PURPOSE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP
Graph - General Government Expenses by Purpose