Government Finance Statistics, Australia

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Statistics about finances of the general government and public non-financial corporations sectors for the various levels of government in Australia

Reference period

June 2021

Released

31/08/2021

View all releases

Key statistics

In the June quarter 2021:

total taxation revenue increased 18.1% to $171.5b
general government net operating balance rose $23.4b from -$20.8b in March quarter 2021 to $2.6b
general government borrowing was $15.6b

Main Features

Unless indicated, all figures presented in this publication are current prices, original series.

One article is included in this release:

Classifying COVID-19 policy interventions in macroeconomic statistics, which examines key COVID-19 policies affecting June quarter 2021.

Table 1 - Quarterly key figures
		Sep Qtr 2020	Dec Qtr 2020	Mar Qtr 2021	Jun Qtr 2021	Mar Qtr 2021 to Jun Qtr 2021
		$m	$m	$m	$m	% change
Public sector measures, seasonally adjusted, chain volume (a) (b)
	General government final consumption expenditure (c)	103,777	104,484	104,203	105,543	1.3%
	General government gross fixed capital formation	19,553	20,364	21,303	23,103	8.4%
	Total public gross fixed capital formation	25,617	26,361	27,188	29,190	7.4%
Key fiscal aggregates, all levels of general government, original
	Taxation Revenue	127,403	148,913	145,154	171,496	18.1%
	Net Operating Balance	-93,275	-38,070	-20,760	2,632	np
	Net Lending (+)/borrowing (-)	-100,512	-49,799	-30,745	-15,647	np

np indicates this value not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) Public sector aggregates for the June quarter 2021 will be included in the Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product
(b) Reference year for chain volume measures is 2018-19.
(c) See Explanatory Notes for the relationship between general government final consumption expenditure and GFS aggregates.

Graph 1 - Public expenditure, contribution to GDP growth (a) (b)
	Government final consumption expenditure (ppt)	Government gross fixed capital formation (ppt)
Jun-18	0.0	0.1
Sep-18	0.3	0.1
Dec-18	0.3	-0.1
Mar-19	0.2	0.0
Jun-19	0.5	0.1
Sep-19	0.2	0.1
Dec-19	0.2	0.0
Mar-20	0.4	0.0
Jun-20	0.5	0.0
Sep-20	0.4	0.0
Dec-20	0.1	0.2
Mar-21	-0.1	0.2
Jun-21	0.3	0.4

Graph 1 - Public expenditure, contribution to GDP growth (a) (b)

["","Government final consumption expenditure","Government gross fixed capital formation"]

[["Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[0],[0.29999999999999999],[0.29999999999999999],[0.20000000000000001],[0.5],[0.20000000000000001],[0.20000000000000001],[0.40000000000000002],[0.5],[0.40000000000000002],[0.10000000000000001],[-0.10000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999]],[[0.10000000000000001],[0.10000000000000001],[-0.10000000000000001],[0],[0.10000000000000001],[0.10000000000000001],[0],[0],[0],[0],[0.20000000000000001],[0.20000000000000001],[0.40000000000000002]]]

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Chain volume measures seasonally adjusted
using the GDP series as published in the March 2021 release of Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product

Graph 2 - Net Operating Balance of All levels of General Government (a)
	Revenue ($b)	Expenses ($b)	Net Operating Balance ($b)
Jun-20	170	-255	-85
Sep-20	160	-253	-93
Dec-20	180	-219	-38
Mar-21	177	-198	-21
Jun-21	207	-205	3

Graph 2 - Net Operating Balance of All levels of General Government (a)

["","Revenue","Expenses","Net Operating Balance"]

[["Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[170],[160],[180],[177],[207]],[[-255],[-253],[-219],[-198],[-205]],[[-85],[-93],[-38],[-21],[3]]]

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original, current prices

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Accounting Standard Changes

Transactions related to visa application charges

ABS public sector unit classification decisions

Key Tables

Show all

Quarterly national accounts public sector measures - key figures

The table below includes the key public sector aggregates for the June quarter 2021 which will be included in the Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product. The key figures shown include Total Public Demand, Government Final Consumption Expenditure for total general government and Gross Fixed Capital Formation for total general government and total public corporations, seasonally adjusted in current prices and chain volume terms.

The following are the seasonally adjusted chain volume measures based on the previous quarter:

public sector demand is expected to contribute 0.7 percentage points to the change in GDP in June quarter 2021.
general government final consumption expenditure increased by $1,340m or 1.3% and is expected to contribute 0.3 percentage points to the change in GDP in June quarter 2021.
general government gross fixed capital formation increased by $1,800m or 8.4%.
public corporations gross fixed capital formation increased by $201m or 3.4%.
total public gross fixed capital formation increased by $2,002m or 7.4% and is expected to contribute 0.4 percentage points to the change in GDP in June quarter 2021.

Table 2 - Quarterly national accounts public sector measures, key figures, seasonally adjusted
			Sep Qtr 2020	Dec Qtr 2020	Mar Qtr 2021	Jun Qtr 2021	Mar Qtr 2021 to Jun Qtr 2021
			$m	$m	$m	$m	% change
CURRENT PRICES
General government final consumption expenditure (a)
	National-defence		9,647	9,344	9,574	9,760	1.9
	National-non-defence		37,182	38,424	37,564	38,508	2.5
	Total national		46,829	47,768	47,139	48,268	2.4
	State and local		59,561	59,942	60,356	61,192	1.4
	Total general government final consumption expenditure		106,390	107,710	107,494	109,460	1.8
Public gross fixed capital formation
	General government
		National-defence	2,477	2,492	2,424	2,521	4.0
		National-non-defence	2,418	2,288	2,337	2,289	-2.1
		Total national	4,895	4,780	4,761	4,810	1.0
		State and local	14,756	15,610	16,420	18,302	11.5
		Total general government	19,651	20,389	21,181	23,112	9.1
	Public corporations
		Commonwealth	2,053	1,979	1,822	1,940	6.5
		State and local	4,167	4,188	4,243	4,448	4.8
		Total public corporations	6,219	6,167	6,065	6,388	5.3
	Total public gross fixed capital formation		25,870	26,556	27,245	29,500	8.3
Total public demand			132,260	134,267	134,739	138,960	3.1
Memorandum item
	Net purchases of second hand assets by public sector		626	720	657	1,522	np

CHAIN VOLUME (b)
General government final consumption expenditure
	National-defence		9,336	8,986	9,152	9,235	0.9
	National-non-defence		36,387	37,314	36,690	37,270	1.6
	Total national		45,723	46,299	45,842	46,504	1.4
	State and local		58,054	58,184	58,361	59,038	1.2
	Total general government final consumption expenditure		103,777	104,484	104,203	105,543	1.3
Public gross fixed capital formation
	General government
		National-defence	2,412	2,511	2,541	2,653	4.4
		National-non-defence	2,420	2,297	2,351	2,288	-2.7
		Total national	4,832	4,808	4,893	4,941	1.0
		State and local	14,721	15,556	16,411	18,163	10.7
		Total general government	19,553	20,364	21,303	23,103	8.4
	Public corporations
		Commonwealth	2,009	1,934	1,776	1,857	4.5
		State and local	4,055	4,064	4,108	4,230	3.0
		Total public corporations	6,065	5,998	5,885	6,086	3.4
	Total public gross fixed capital formation		25,617	26,361	27,188	29,190	7.4
Total public demand			129,394	130,845	131,391	134,732	2.5
Memorandum item
	Net purchases of second hand assets by public sector		618	708	642	1,475	np

— nil or rounded to zero
np indicates this value not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) See Explanatory Notes for the relationship between general government final consumption expenditure and GFS aggregates
(b) Reference year for chain volume measures in 2018-19 = 100.0

Table 3 - Government Finance Statistics, key figures, original
		Sep Qtr 2020	Dec Qtr 2020	Mar Qtr 2021	Jun Qtr 2021	Mar Qtr 2021 to Jun Qtr 2021
		$m	$m	$m	$m	% change
Taxation revenue
	General government	127,403	148,913	145,154	171,496	18.1%
Total revenue
	General government	160,112	180,483	177,335	207,241	16.9%
	Public non-financial corporations	23,448	24,553	23,408	25,341	8.3%
Total expenses
	General government	253,387	218,553	198,095	204,609	3.3%
	Public non-financial corporations	25,293	26,785	24,247	27,107	11.8%
GFS Net Operating Balance
	General government	-93,275	-38,070	-20,760	2,632	np
	Public non-financial corporations	-1,846	-2,232	-838	-1,766	np
GFS Net Lending (+)/Borrowing (-)
	General government	-100,512	-49,799	-30,745	-15,647	np
	Public non-financial corporations	-4,994	-3,340	-542	-5,140	np

np indicates this value not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Analysis

Unless otherwise specified, percentage changes shown below are through the year.

Net operating balance recovery continued

All levels of government (herein referred to as total) net operating balance continued to recover this quarter, increasing $23.4 billion for June quarter 2021 to $2.6 billion. Through the year, it was $87.2 billion higher than June quarter 2020.

Graph 3 - Net operating balance, all levels of general government (a)
	All levels of government ($b)	Commonwealth ($b)	State and Local ($b)
Jun-19	16.2	11.5	5.8
Sep-19	-13.4	-14.8	0.5
Dec-19	1.5	5.1	-1.3
Mar-20	-7.7	-5.9	-3.6
Jun-20	-84.6	-68.9	-14.6
Sep-20	-93.3	-88.8	-5.7
Dec-20	-38.1	-25.7	-9.7
Mar-21	-20.8	-19.3	-5.3
Jun-21	2.6	-2.6	5.6

Graph 3 - Net operating balance, all levels of general government (a)

["","All levels of government","Commonwealth","State and Local"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[16.199999999999999],[-13.4],[1.5],[-7.7000000000000002],[-84.599999999999994],[-93.299999999999997],[-38.100000000000001],[-20.800000000000001],[2.6000000000000001]],[[11.5],[-14.800000000000001],[5.0999999999999996],[-5.9000000000000004],[-68.900000000000006],[-88.799999999999997],[-25.699999999999999],[-19.300000000000001],[-2.6000000000000001]],[[5.7999999999999998],[0.5],[-1.3],[-3.6000000000000001],[-14.6],[-5.7000000000000002],[-9.6999999999999993],[-5.2999999999999998],[5.5999999999999996]]]

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Commonwealth and State & Local Net Operating Balance are not additive to All Australia Net Operating Balance due to consolidation and the inclusion of public universities

Total expenses fell since June quarter 2020

Total expenses fell 19.7% from June quarter 2020 to $204.6 billion, however increased 3.3% from March quarter 2021.

Government spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency continued to decrease through the year after unprecedented expenses in June quarter 2020. The cessation of Commonwealth government payments as business conditions generally improved drove the decline in total expenses.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has contributed to expenses increasing since March quarter.

Total revenue rose since June quarter 2020

Total revenue increased $37.1 billion (up 21.8%) through the year and increased $29.9 billion (up 16.9%) since March quarter 2021.

The strength in revenue was driven by total taxation revenue reaching record levels.

Graph 4 - Total expenses and total revenue, all levels of general government
	Revenue ($b)	Expenses ($b)
Jun-19	191.9	175.7
Sep-19	164.0	177.4
Dec-19	177.8	176.4
Mar-20	169.5	177.2
Jun-20	170.2	254.7
Sep-20	160.1	253.4
Dec-20	180.5	218.6
Mar-21	177.3	198.1
Jun-21	207.2	204.6

Graph 4 - Total expenses and total revenue, all levels of general government

["","Revenue","Expenses"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[191.90000000000001],[164],[177.80000000000001],[169.5],[170.19999999999999],[160.09999999999999],[180.5],[177.30000000000001],[207.19999999999999]],[[175.69999999999999],[177.40000000000001],[176.40000000000001],[177.19999999999999],[254.69999999999999],[253.40000000000001],[218.59999999999999],[198.09999999999999],[204.59999999999999]]]

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State and local net operating balance recovered

State and local general government net operating balance recovered both through the year and from March quarter 2021, with all jurisdictions improving their net operating balance over these periods. Increases in taxation, capital grants and sales of goods and services revenue drove these improvements. Expenses moderated across most state and local governments as business conditions improved and COVID-19 restrictions eased.

Total state and local general government net operating balance is $5.6 billion, an increase of $20.2 billion. All states except Victoria recorded a positive net operating balance in June quarter 2021. Queensland (up $6.2 billion) and New South Wales (up $5.4 billion) drove the $20.2 billion recovery in total state and local general government net operating balance.

Total state and local general government net operating balance increased $10.8 billion from March quarter 2021, driven by Queensland (up $3.9 billion) and New South Wales (up $2.5 million).

Graph 5 - Net operating balance, state & local general government
	Jun-20 ($b)	Jun-21 ($b)
NSW	-3.7	1.7
VIC	-4.7	-2.9
QLD	-3.3	2.9
SA	-0.7	1.3
WA	-0.9	1.6
TAS	-0.5	0.3
NT	-0.6	0.5
ACT	-0.3	0.1
Total State & Local	-14.6	5.6

Graph 5 - Net operating balance, state & local general government

["","Jun-20","Jun-21"]

[["NSW","VIC","QLD","SA","WA","TAS","NT","ACT","Total State & Local"],[[-3.7000000000000002],[-4.7000000000000002],[-3.2999999999999998],[-0.69999999999999996],[-0.90000000000000002],[-0.5],[-0.59999999999999998],[-0.29999999999999999],[-14.6]],[[1.7],[-2.8999999999999999],[2.8999999999999999],[1.3],[1.6000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999],[0.5],[0.10000000000000001],[5.5999999999999996]]]

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Taxation revenue surpassed pre-pandemic levels

Taxation revenue grew 21.5% to $171.5 billion, following a revised increase of 5.3% recorded in the March quarter 2021. The through the year growth rates for some taxation categories have a low base in June quarter 2020 due to COVID-19 impacts. This includes categories such as company income tax, GST, payroll taxes, stamp duties on conveyances and taxes on gambling.

Graph 6 - Taxation revenue, all levels of government
	Quarterly (%)	Through the year (%)
Jun-19	13.1	5.2
Sep-19	-16.4	1.5
Dec-19	13.2	1.8
Mar-20	-5.4	1.4
Jun-20	2.4	-8.2
Sep-20	-9.7	-1.0
Dec-20	16.9	2.2
Mar-21	-2.5	5.3
Jun-21	18.1	21.5

Graph 6 - Taxation revenue, all levels of government

["","Quarterly","Through the year"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[13.1],[-16.399999999999999],[13.199999999999999],[-5.4000000000000004],[2.3999999999999999],[-9.6999999999999993],[16.899999999999999],[-2.5],[18.100000000000001]],[[5.2000000000000002],[1.5],[1.8],[1.3999999999999999],[-8.1999999999999993],[-1],[2.2000000000000002],[5.2999999999999998],[21.5]]]

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Commonwealth taxation revenue at record levels

Total Commonwealth government taxation revenue grew 19.0% (up $22.5 billion). Strength in capital gains taxes levied on enterprises was driven by company income tax (up 37.2% or $8.6 billion) and income tax paid by superannuation funds (up $3.1 billion). Growth reflected continued improvement in business conditions, an increase in commodities prices, and strong financial markets.

Goods and services tax (GST) rose 42.4% (or $6.2 billion) following strong retail trade growth and housing investment.

Personal income tax grew 4.9% (up $3.0 billion) following improved employment conditions. Strength was partly offset by changes to personal income tax rates introduced in the December quarter 2020.

Graph 7 - Taxation revenue, Commonwealth, key drivers
	Through the year (%)
Personal income tax	4.9
Income and capital gains taxes levied on enterprises	48.7
GST	42.4
Excises on petroleum products	25.8
Total taxation revenue	19.0

Graph 7 - Taxation revenue, Commonwealth, key drivers

["","Through the year"]

[["Personal income tax","Income and capital gains taxes levied on enterprises","GST","Excises on petroleum products","Total taxation revenue"],[[4.9000000000000004],[48.700000000000003],[42.399999999999999],[25.800000000000001],[19]]]

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State and local government taxation revenue at record levels

Total state and local government taxation revenue rose 33.9% (up $7.8 billion). Strength in stamp duties on conveyances (up 84.6% or $3.5 billion) reflected increases in the volume of transfers and rising property prices. Gambling tax continued to rise (up $1.3 billion), reflecting the continuation of pubs, clubs and venues being open in all states.

Growth in payroll tax (up 46.8% or $2.2 billion) reflected strong business conditions and the cessation of payroll tax waivers introduced at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Payroll tax strength was partly offset by tax threshold changes in various states and a decrease in the payroll tax rate in NSW.

Graph 8 - Taxation revenue, state & local, key drivers
	Through the year (%)
Payroll taxes	46.8
Property taxes	3.2
Stamp duties on conveyances	84.6
Taxes on gambling	178.1
Other S&L taxes	13.2
Total taxation revenue	33.9

Graph 8 - Taxation revenue, state & local, key drivers

["","Through the year"]

[["Payroll taxes","Property taxes","Stamp duties on conveyances","Taxes on gambling","Other S&L taxes","Total taxation revenue"],[[46.799999999999997],[3.2000000000000002],[84.599999999999994],[178.09999999999999],[13.199999999999999],[33.899999999999999]]]

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Public investment in new assets continued to lift

Total public investment in new assets(a) grew strongly through the year to June quarter 2021, rising by 14.5% ($4.1 billion). General government increased by 16.7% ($3.7 billion), led by Commonwealth defence. State and local general government also recorded broad strength across most jurisdictions, with strong growth observed in Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, reflecting increased budgetary spend and stimulus measures related to road, rail, health and education projects. Public corporations also contributed strength, increasing 6.5% ($0.4 billion), driven by increases in Western Australia and New South Wales.

Includes acquisitions of new non-financial fixed produced assets. Second-hand asset acquisitions and sales between sectors are excluded from this measure.

Graph 9 - Public investment in new assets, all levels of government
	General government (%)	Public non-financial corporations (%)	Total public sector (%)
Jun-19	7.2	1.4	5.7
Sep-19	10.5	-3.2	6.6
Dec-19	5.4	1.8	4.6
Mar-20	7.4	0.7	5.7
Jun-20	6.0	-5.9	3.2
Sep-20	1.7	-3.7	0.3
Dec-20	3.3	-0.2	2.5
Mar-21	5.3	-1.5	3.7
Jun-21	16.7	6.5	14.5

Graph 9 - Public investment in new assets, all levels of government

["","General government","Public non-financial corporations","Total public sector"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[7.2000000000000002],[10.5],[5.4000000000000004],[7.4000000000000004],[6],[1.7],[3.2999999999999998],[5.2999999999999998],[16.699999999999999]],[[1.3999999999999999],[-3.2000000000000002],[1.8],[0.69999999999999996],[-5.9000000000000004],[-3.7000000000000002],[-0.20000000000000001],[-1.5],[6.5]],[[5.7000000000000002],[6.5999999999999996],[4.5999999999999996],[5.7000000000000002],[3.2000000000000002],[0.29999999999999999],[2.5],[3.7000000000000002],[14.5]]]

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Graph 10 - Public investment in new assets, state and local general government, through the year percentage change

This map represents the through the year percentage (%) growth in new purchases of non-financial assets by state & local general government by state to June quarter 2021:

New South Wales 10.2%
Victoria 19.2%
Queensland 13.7%
South Australia 64.7%
Western Australia 22.0%
Tasmania 21.9%
Northern Territory -3.0%
Australian Capital Territory 72.3%

Net worth falls due to increased borrowing liabilities

Total general government net worth decreased by $27.0 billion in June quarter 2021 to $33.0 billion. An increase in liabilities drove the change while assets remained relatively flat. Commonwealth and state governments increased borrowing levels through debt securities and loans to continue funding infrastructure projects and ongoing economic recovery measures. General government net worth decreased $108.4 billion through the year.

Net financial worth was -$956.6 billion, a fall of $52.0 billion from the March quarter 2021 estimate and a decrease of $150.8 billion from June quarter 2020.

Graph 11 - Net worth, all levels of general government
	Total Assets ($b)	Total Liabilities ($b)	GFS Net Worth ($b)	Net Financial Worth ($b)
Jun-19	1,821	-1,501	321	-569
Sep-19	1,851	-1,604	247	-653
Dec-19	1,858	-1,591	267	-642
Mar-20	1,887	-1,661	227	-695
Jun-20	1,967	-1,826	141	-806
Sep-20	2,004	-1,979	26	-924
Dec-20	1,979	-1,973	7	-942
Mar-21	2,014	-1,954	60	-905
Jun-21	2,012	-1,979	33	-957

Graph 11 - Net worth, all levels of general government

["","Total Assets","Total Liabilities","GFS Net Worth","Net Financial Worth"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[1821],[1851],[1858],[1887],[1967],[2004],[1979],[2014],[2012]],[[-1501],[-1604],[-1591],[-1661],[-1826],[-1979],[-1973],[-1954],[-1979]],[[321],[247],[267],[227],[141],[26],[7],[60],[33]],[[-569],[-653],[-642],[-695],[-806],[-924],[-942],[-905],[-957]]]

[]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"$b","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"($b)","table_units":"($b)","axis_min":"-2500","axis_max":"2500","tick_interval":"500","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Graph 12 - Commonwealth net worth, contributions to quarterly change
	Net Worth ($b)	Financial Assets ($b)	Non-financial assets ($b)	Debt securities & other loans and placements liabilities ($b)	All other liabilities ($b)
Jun-19	-34	37	4	-21	-55
Sep-19	-85	8	1	-33	-60
Dec-19	23	3	4	16	0
Mar-20	-32	17	1	-40	-9
Jun-20	-80	48	3	-102	-30
Sep-20	-99	32	-3	-127	-2
Dec-20	-14	-26	2	6	4
Mar-21	25	0	1	27	-2
Jun-21	-5	-1	4	-9	1

Graph 12 - Commonwealth net worth, contributions to quarterly change

["","Net Worth","Financial Assets","Non-financial assets","Debt securities & other loans and placements liabilities","All other liabilities"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[-34],[-85],[23],[-32],[-80],[-99],[-14],[25],[-5]],[[37],[8],[3],[17],[48],[32],[-26],[0],[-1]],[[4],[1],[4],[1],[3],[-3],[2],[1],[4]],[[-21],[-33],[16],[-40],[-102],[-127],[6],[27],[-9]],[[-55],[-60],[0],[-9],[-30],[-2],[4],[-2],[1]]]

[]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"$b","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"($b)","table_units":"($b)","axis_min":"-150","axis_max":"75","tick_interval":"25","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Graph 13 - Total state net worth, contributions to quarterly change
	Net Worth ($b)	Financial Assets ($b)	Non-financial assets ($b)	Debt securities & other loans and placements liabilities ($b)	All other liabilities ($b)
Jun-19	-33	-12	17	-4	-33
Sep-19	11	11	10	-12	3
Dec-19	-3	-3	6	-5	0
Mar-20	-9	2	12	-19	-4
Jun-20	-4	8	22	-20	-14
Sep-20	-17	3	5	-24	-1
Dec-20	-5	-1	-3	-12	11
Mar-21	28	19	15	-13	6
Jun-21	-22	-28	21	-16	1

Graph 13 - Total state net worth, contributions to quarterly change

["","Net Worth","Financial Assets","Non-financial assets","Debt securities & other loans and placements liabilities","All other liabilities"]

[["Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[-33],[11],[-3],[-9],[-4],[-17],[-5],[28],[-22]],[[-12],[11],[-3],[2],[8],[3],[-1],[19],[-28]],[[17],[10],[6],[12],[22],[5],[-3],[15],[21]],[[-4],[-12],[-5],[-19],[-20],[-24],[-12],[-13],[-16]],[[-33],[3],[0],[-4],[-14],[-1],[11],[6],[1]]]

[]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"$b","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"($b)","table_units":"($b)","axis_min":"-75","axis_max":"75","tick_interval":"25","precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

University revenue recovered while expenditure continued to fall

University sector total revenue increased 13.4% ($0.9 billion). Current grants and subsidies drove the increase in revenue. Sales of goods and services also rose.

Capital investment programs of most Australian universities continued to be impacted by the ongoing postponement or cancellation of new infrastructure projects. New capital purchases fell 24.5% (down $0.2 billion).

Universities implemented a range of cost cutting measures over the past year. This continued to place downward pressure on operating expenses this quarter, which fell by 2.0% ($0.2 billion). Redundancies made in prior quarters resulted in lower staff levels and a reduction in wages and salaries compared to June quarter 2020.

Graph 14 - University sector selected aggregates
	Total Revenue (%)	Total Operating Expenses (%)	New capital purchases (%)
Jun-20	-5.4	-3.2	-11.1
Sep-20	-2.5	-3.6	-31.7
Dec-20	-9.5	-1.1	-40.1
Mar-21	9.7	-9.7	-42.1
Jun-21	13.4	-2.0	-24.5

Graph 14 - University sector selected aggregates

["","Total Revenue","Total Operating Expenses","New capital purchases"]

[["Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[-5.4000000000000004],[-2.5],[-9.5],[9.6999999999999993],[13.4]],[[-3.2000000000000002],[-3.6000000000000001],[-1.1000000000000001],[-9.6999999999999993],[-2]],[[-11.1],[-31.699999999999999],[-40.100000000000001],[-42.100000000000001],[-24.5]]]

[]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"% change","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"(%)","table_units":"(%)","axis_min":"-50","axis_max":"20","tick_interval":"10","precision":"1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Data downloads

Table 1 - Government Finance Statistics, Australia

Data files

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Future issues of this publication will contain data downloads in Excel spreadsheets with the new file extension of .XLSX rather than the current .XLS format.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 5519.0.55.001.

Methodology

Government Finance Statistics, Australia methodology, June 2021

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APA

Citation

Government Finance Statistics, Australia

APA

Citation

Key statistics

Main Features

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Accounting Standard Changes

Transactions related to visa application charges

ABS public sector unit classification decisions

Key Tables

Show all

Quarterly national accounts public sector measures - key figures

Analysis

Net operating balance recovery continued

Total expenses fell since June quarter 2020

Total revenue rose since June quarter 2020

State and local net operating balance recovered

Taxation revenue surpassed pre-pandemic levels

Commonwealth taxation revenue at record levels

State and local government taxation revenue at record levels

Public investment in new assets continued to lift

Graph 10 - Public investment in new assets, state and local general government, through the year percentage change

Net worth falls due to increased borrowing liabilities

University revenue recovered while expenditure continued to fall

Data downloads

Table 1 - Government Finance Statistics, Australia

Future changes to the format of data downloads

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Do you need more detailed statistics?

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Microdata and TableBuilder

Provide feedback

APA

Government Finance Statistics, Australia

APA

Key statistics

Main Features

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Accounting Standard Changes

Transactions related to visa application charges

ABS public sector unit classification decisions

Key Tables

Show all

Quarterly national accounts public sector measures - key figures

Analysis

Net operating balance recovery continued

Total expenses fell since June quarter 2020

Total revenue rose since June quarter 2020

State and local net operating balance recovered

Taxation revenue surpassed pre-pandemic levels

Commonwealth taxation revenue at record levels

State and local government taxation revenue at record levels

Public investment in new assets continued to lift

Graph 10 - Public investment in new assets, state and local general government, through the year percentage change

Net worth falls due to increased borrowing liabilities

University revenue recovered while expenditure continued to fall

Data downloads

Table 1 - Government Finance Statistics, Australia

Future changes to the format of data downloads

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Articles

Classifying COVID-19 policy interventions during June quarter 2021 in macroeconomic statistics

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Microdata and TableBuilder