1001.0 - Australian Bureau of Statistics -- Annual Report, 2006-07  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/10/2007   
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FINANCIAL POSITION

As already noted, within the context of the Portfolio Budget Statements, the ABS has two outputs: Economic Statistics, and Population and Social Statistics. Table 2.1 provides, for 2006–07, a financial summary of ABS outputs and prices of outputs against the budgeted figures, and also provides budgeted figures for 2007–08. The full financial statements are provided in Chapter 24. The ABS budget is prepared under an accrual framework, consistent with the Australian Government Budget requirements.

The operating surplus of $0.6 million in 2006–07 was $2.1 million higher than the $1.5 million deficit projected at Additional Estimates. The improved position is primarily due to a technical accounting adjustment to employee benefits associated with movements in long-term interest rates. If the favourable movement in the interest rate had not taken place, the ABS would have recorded a loss in 2006–07. Revenue from other sources was $2.3 million higher than budget, due to increased consultants work associated with the 2006 Census. Increases in other gains of $0.1 million were also achieved on minor asset disposals. Expenditure was $0.3 million higher than budget due to increased costs associated with higher levels of external service provision that were offset by a technical movement in employee benefits.


Table 2.1 Financial resources summary ($’000)
Budget 2006–07 (a)
Actual 2006–07
Variance
Budget 2007–08 (b)
Price of Departmental Outputs
Output group 1.1 - National Statistical Service
Output group 1.1.1 - Economic statistics
140 843
142 886
(2 043)
150 414
Output group 1.1.2 - Population and social statistics
296 455
294 709
1 746
169 863
Total output
437 298
437 595
(297)
320 277
Revenue from Government appropriation
414 431
414 431
-
299 094
Revenue from other sources
21 225
23 501
2 276
21 083
Total Price of Outputs
435 656
437 932
2 276
320 177
Total for Outcome 1
435 656
437 932
2 276
320 177
(a) Budget 2006-07 - full year budget, including additional estimates.
(b) Budget 2007-08 - budget prior to additional estimates.

The ABS does not administer any discretionary grants. It conducts a scholarship program in conjunction with four Australian universities.

The breakdown of revenue raised from other sources is shown in Table 2.2.


Table 2.2 Revenue raised from other sources ($’000)
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
Revenue raised from statistics
Publications
776
270
175
Other standard products
4 293
1 781
843
Information consultancy
4 814
4 491
4 805
Statistical consultancy
784
1 207
2 698
User funded surveys
4 465
8 159
9 453
Other products and services
4 100
3 693
4 852
Total revenue raised from statistics
19 232
19 600
22 826
Other revenue
1 587
617
675
Total
20 819
20 217
23 501

Total revenue increased in 2006–07 compared to 2005–06, with a 16 per cent increase in revenue raised from statistics. Other revenue increased by a similar margin of 9 per cent over the previous year, but was markedly less than 2004–05, when the one-off International Statistical Institute conference was hosted by the ABS.

Increases in revenue were recorded against statistical consultancy (124 per cent), other products and services (31 per cent) and user-funded surveys (16 per cent), building on the gains from the previous year and reflecting the ABS’ continued commitment to increasing its engagement with statistical users.

The ABS continued to record declines in revenue from publications (35 per cent decline) and other standard products (53 per cent decline). This was the first full year following the Australian Government decision to provide free access to all publications and other statistical products on the ABS website and the cessation, as a result, of the subscription service for hardcopy publications.




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