KEY GOVERNMENT FINANCE STATISTICS

ACCRUAL OPERATING RESULTS


The GFS net operating balance for all levels of government in 2015-16 was -$23,164m for the general government sector and -$30,753m for the total public sector.

GFS net lending/borrowing for all levels of government in 2015-16 was -$44,467m for the general government sector and -$62,523m for the total public sector.

The following table shows 2015-16 GFS operating statement aggregates by sector across the various levels of government.

OPERATING RESULTS, By Sector, 2015-16
		General Government Sector	Non-financial Public Sector	Total Public Sector(a)
		2015-16	2015-16	2015-16
		$m	$m	$m
All levels of government
	GFS Revenue	577 650	631 759	639 440
	GFS Expenses	600 814	659 101	670 192
	GFS Net operating balance	-23 164	-27 343	-30 753
	Net acquisition of non-financial assets	21 303	31 869	31 770
	GFS Net lending(+)/borrowing(-)	-44 467	-59 212	-62 523
Commonwealth Government
	GFS Revenue	395 695	404 509	405 071
	GFS Expenses	430 949	442 528	443 846
	GFS Net operating balance	-35 254	-38 020	-38 775
	Net acquisition of non-financial assets	3 482	8 202	8 272
	GFS Net lending(+)/borrowing(-)	-38 736	-46 221	-47 047
State and local government
	GFS Revenue	280 196	324 487	331 647
	GFS Expenses	265 475	311 417	321 231
	GFS Net operating balance	14 721	13 071	10 416
	Net acquisition of non-financial assets	16 574	22 452	22 282
	GFS Net lending(+)/borrowing(-)	-1 853	-9 381	-11 866
Multi-jurisdictional(b)
	GFS Revenue	27 782	29 965	29 965
	GFS Expenses	26 849	28 785	28 785
	GFS Net operating balance	933	1 180	1 180
	Net acquisition of non-financial assets	1 249	1 217	1 217
	GFS Net lending(+)/borrowing(-)	-316	-38	-38
(a) The total public sector comprises general government, public non-financial corporations and public financial corporations. The sum of individual levels of government or sectors may not agree with the total public sector figures due to transfers between levels of government.
(b) 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 types of units currently falling into this category are the public universities.

CASH OPERATING RESULTS


The cash operating result for all levels of government in 2015-16 was a deficit of -$40,605m for the general government sector and a deficit of -$56,109m for the total public sector.

The following table presents the 2015-16 cash operating surplus/deficit results by sector for each jurisdiction.

CASH OPERATING RESULTS, By Sector, 2015-16
			General Government Sector	Non-financial Public Sector	Total Public Sector(a)
			2015-16	2015-16	2015-16
			$m	$m	$m
Surplus (+)/Deficit(-)
	Commonwealth Government		-36 484	-43 156	-44 424
	State and local government
		New South Wales	3 598	-1 525	-85
		Victoria	655	-120	868
		Queensland	362	-1 074	-2 336
		South Australia	-153	-78	-550
		Western Australia	-3 733	-4 616	-4 801
		Tasmania	256	106	131
		Northern Territory	-23	-59	-83
		Australian Capital Territory	-662	-614	-614
		Total state and local government	299	-7 977	-7 468
	Multi-jurisdictional(b)		-345	-134	-134
	All levels of government		-40 605	-55 350	-56 109
(a) The total public sector comprises general government, public non-financial corporations and public financial corporations. The sum of individual levels of government or sectors may not agree with the total public sector figures due to transfers between levels of government.
(b) 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 types of units currently falling into this category are the 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 2016 for all levels of government was $775,314m.

The following table presents 30 June 2016 balance sheet aggregates by sector for the various levels of government.

BALANCE SHEET RESULTS, By Sector, At 30 June 2016
		General Government Sector	Non-financial Public Sector	Total Public Sector(a)
		at 30 June 2016	at 30 June 2016	at 30 June 2016
		$m	$m	$m
All levels of government
	Total assets	2 076 971	2 230 406	2 478 666
	Total liabilities	1 301 657	1 453 194	1 703 351
	Shares and other contributed capital	-	1 898	-
	GFS Net worth	775 314	775 314	775 314
Commonwealth Government
	Total assets	491 341	502 573	647 524
	Total liabilities	894 693	905 925	1 050 876
	Shares and other contributed capital	-	-	-
	GFS Net worth	-403 352	-403 352	-403 352
State and local government
	Total assets	1 528 320	1 671 255	1 780 189
	Total liabilities	399 571	540 608	651 440
	Shares and other contributed capital	-	1 898	-
	GFS Net worth	1 128 749	1 128 749	1 128 749
Multi-jurisdictional(b)
	Total assets	69 816	73 560	73 560
	Total liabilities	19 899	21 554	21 554
	Shares and other contributed capital	-	2 088	2 088
	GFS Net worth	49 917	49 917	49 917
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) The total public sector comprises general government, public non-financial corporations and public financial corporations. The sum of individual levels of government or sectors may not agree with the total public sector figures due to transfers between level of government.
(b) 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 types of units currently falling into this category are the public universities.

GOVERNMENT FINANCE STATISTICS STANDARDS

GFS enables policy makers and users to analyse the financial operations and financial position of the public sector by the level of government, institutional sector or set of transactions. The system of GFS is based on international standards set out in the System of National Accounts 1993 (1993 SNA) and the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM). The System of National Accounts has been updated and the System of National Accounts, 2008 (2008 SNA) was endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission in February 2009. The ABS compilation of GFS adopts the updated 2008 SNA treatment in two cases. The first is that Defence Weapons Platforms are treated as gross fixed capital formation. The second is in the treatment of Special Drawing Rights. These changes have been updated in the Australian System of Government Finance Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2005 (cat. no. 5514.0). The ABS GFS Manual has also been updated to include the treatment of emissions schemes in ABS GFS data.

The IMF has published a revised Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM 2014), and the Australian system has been updated to reflect the new international standards. These changes are presented in the Australian System of Government Finance Statistics: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2015 (cat. no. 5514.0), and will be implemented for data reported for periods from 1 July 2017 onwards.


ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication presents government finance statistics on an accrual accounting basis for each jurisdiction for general government, public non-financial corporations, the non-financial public sector, public financial corporations and the total public sector for all levels of government, commonwealth government, state government, state and local government, local government and multi-jurisdictional as follows:

• Operating statements;
• Cash flow statements; and
• Balance sheets.

Time series of these data are available on the ABS website for the periods 2006-07 to 2015-16.

Users interested in quarterly GFS data for the current financial year should refer to Government Finance Statistics, Australia, Quarterly (cat. no. 5519.0.55.001).


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