17. Relationships to other statistical systems

This chapter describes the relationships between the GFS system in Australia and the following three information systems with which it is closely linked:

• The International Monetary Fund Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (IMF GFSM 2014) - this is the international standard for GFS established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which provides the conceptual basis for Australia’s GFS system;
• The Australian System of National Accounts (ASNA) - this is aligned with international standards for national accounts set out in the System of National Accounts, 2008 (2008 SNA). The IMF’s GFS system is closely harmonised with 2008 SNA. ‘Harmonised’ means that common statistical concepts are used and, to a degree, common classifications and items are also used, enabling links between the systems to be established. Consequently, there are close links between the ASNA and Australia’s GFS system, which is the main source of ASNA statistics about the general government sector and public non-financial corporations; and
• AASB 1049: Whole of Government and General Government Sector Financial Reporting - this is the principal Australian Accounting Standard underlying the financial statements issued by Australian governments and most of the source data used by the ABS in compiling GFS.

The main aim of the chapter is to provide a broad understanding of the relationships between the GFS system and other statistical and accounting systems with which it can be linked.