1001.0 - Annual Report - ABS Annual Report, 2005-06

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/10/2006

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Contents >> Section 2 - Introduction >> Chapter 2 - Overview of the ABS >> Financial overview

Financial overview

Within the context of the Portfolio Budget Statements, the ABS has two outputs: (i) Economic Statistics; and (ii) Population and Social Statistics. Table 2.1 below provides, for 2005–06, a financial summary of ABS outputs and price of outputs against the budgeted figures, and also provides budgeted figures for 2006–07. The full financial statements are provided in chapter 25. The ABS budget is prepared under an accrual framework, consistent with the Australian Government Budget requirements.

The operating surplus of $0.023 million in 2005–06 was in line with the balanced operating result projected at Additional Estimates. Revenue from other sources and total expenditure were both around $3 million below budget, and primarily relate to incomplete user funded surveys.

TABLE 2.1 FINANCIAL RESOURCES SUMMARY ($'000)


			Budget 2005–06 (a)	Actual 2005–06	Variance	Budget 2006–07 (b)

Price of Departmental Outputs
	Output group 1.1 – National Statistical Service
		Output group 1.1.1 – Economic statistics	137,878	133,709	4,169	139,257
		Output group 1.1.2 – Population and social statistics	204,235	205,221	-986	292,207
		Total output	342,113	338,930	3,183	431,464
	Revenue from Government appropriation		318,622	318,622	0	413,823
	Revenue from other sources		23,491	20,217	3,274	17,641
	Total Price of Outputs		342,113	338,839	3,274	431,464
	Total for Outcome 1		342,113	338,839	3,274	431,464
	Staff years (number)		2,832	2,987	-155	3,300

(a) Budget 2005–06 – full year budget, including additional estimates.
(b) Budget 2006–07 – budget prior to additional estimates.

The ABS does not administer any discretionary grants. It conducts a scholarship program in conjunction with four Australian universities (see chapter 19 for more information).

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

TABLE 2.2 REVENUE RAISED FROM OTHER SOURCES ($'000)


			2003–04	2004–05	2005–06

Revenue raised from statistics
	Publications		1,071	776	270
	Other standard products		4,603	4,293	1,781
	Information consultancy		4,432	4,814	4,491
	Statistical consultancy		833	784	1,207
	User funded surveys		3,083	4,465	8,159
	Other products and services		4,738	4,100	3,693
		Total revenue raised from statistics	18,760	19,232	19,600
	Other revenue		680	1,587	617
	Total		19,440	20,819	20,217

Total revenue declined slightly in 2005–06 compared to 2004–05, despite a 2 per cent increase in revenue raised from statistics. Other revenue fell relative to the previous year largely because of the one-off International Statistical Institute conference hosted by the ABS in 2004–05.

Substantial increases in revenue were recorded against statistical consultancy and user funded surveys, reflecting ABS' commitment to increasing its engagement with statistical users. Revenue from user funded surveys was budgeted to be approximately $3 million higher in 2005–06 and, although additional cash of this magnitude was received in 2005–06, it remained as unearned at 30 June 2006.

The ABS recorded significant declines in revenue from publications and other standard products. This was directly attributable to the Australian Government decision to provide free access to all publications and other statistical products on the ABS web site during 2005–06 and the cessation, as a result, of the subscription service for hardcopy publications.