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Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2000-01

• Statistics, concepts and notes to the financial statements

Appendix C: AAS31 Financial Reporting by Government Primary Financial Statements

This appendix presents financial statements that have been prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with applicable Australian Accounting Standards, including Australian Accounting Standard No. 31 Financial Reporting by Governments (AAS31), except where departures from the standard are identified in Note 1.

Table C1: Statement of revenue and expenses for the Commonwealth general government sector - AAS31

Table C2: Balance sheet for the Commonwealth general
government sector - AAS31

Table C3: Statement of cash flows for the Commonwealth general government sector - AAS31

Statistics, concepts and notes to the financial statements

Note 1: External reporting standards

The Charter of Budget Honesty Act 1998 requires that the budget be based on external reporting standards and that departures from applicable external reporting standards be identified.

The financial statements included in this appendix have been prepared on an accrual basis in accordance with applicable Australian accounting standards, including Australian Accounting Standard No. 31 `Financial Reporting by Governments' (AAS31). AAS31 is the relevant accounting standard for financial reporting by governments.

AAS31 requires adoption of the full accrual basis of accounting. This means that assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are recorded in financial statements when they have their economic impact on the government, rather than when the cash flow associated with these transactions occurs. Consistent with AAS31, an operating statement, a balance sheet and a statement of cash flows have been prepared using estimates for the budget year and the three forward years.

The accounting policies in this budget document are generally consistent with the accounting policies in AAS31. While the scope for financial reporting recommended in AAS31 is the Whole of Government (that is, the Commonwealth public sector), in accordance with the Charter of Budget Honesty Act 1998, the budget presentation of financial estimates covers the General Government Sector only.

In relation to taxation revenue, AAS31 suggests revenue be recognised at the time the income (or economic activity) giving rise to a tax liability occurs, where this can be measured reliably. At this stage, the Commonwealth does not consider its taxation revenues can be reliably measured on this basis for budget reporting purposes. Taxation revenue is therefore recognised at the time a taxpayer makes a self-assessment or when the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or the Australian Customs Service (ACS) raises a tax assessment.

The Commonwealth collected a number of taxes on an agency basis for the States and Territories, principally `safety net' surcharge collections until 1 July 2000 (which replaced business franchise fees), mirror taxes on Commonwealth places and from 1 July 2000, the goods and services tax. The revenue from these taxes is passed to State and Territory Governments (with an adjustment for administration costs in the case of safety net revenue and mirror taxes). Estimates of taxes collected by the Commonwealth and passed to State and Territory Governments are provided in Note 4.

In regard to GST revenue, AAS31 and other relevant accounting standards would suggest the gross amount of GST be included in the Commonwealth's Financial Statements. However, the clear policy intent of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Reform of Commonwealth-State Financial Relations (the IGA) is that the GST is a State tax collected by the Commonwealth in an agency capacity. Therefore, accrued GST revenues and associated payments to the States and Territories are not recorded in the MYEFO financial statements.

In addition, non-accounting standard classifications have been used in different sections of the budget. `Outcomes' is a Commonwealth classification framework that indicates the results, impacts or consequences of agencies' activities. Functional classifications used in some tables are based on standards maintained by the ABS, but have been extended in some cases to provide greater detail.

Note 2: Reconciliation of cash

Note 3: Income tax

Note 4: Indirect tax

Note 5: Interest and dividends

Note 6: Other sources of non-taxation revenue

Note 7: Employees expenses

(a) Salaries and wages do not include superannuation.

Note 8: Suppliers expenses

Note 9: Depreciation and amortisation

Note 10: Grants

Note 11: Non-financial assets

Note 12: Employee liabilities

Note 13: Grants payable

Note 14: Government securities

For 2000-01 and the forward years, transactions relating to government securities and financial assets acquired for debt management purposes have been netted in the balance sheet and cash flows. In the balance sheet, the financial assets - investments category excludes financial assets acquired for debt management purposes, while the debt - government securities category is shown net of financial assets acquired for debt management purposes. Likewise, in the statement of cash flows, the investing activities - cash used - other category excludes cash used to acquire financial assets for debt management purposes.

This netting treatment has been applied because of the considerable uncertainty associated with the split between government securities and financial assets acquired for debt management purposes. Debt management strategies in respect of government securities and financial assets are highly dependent on prevailing market conditions and other factors. The balance to be struck between gross debt retirement and financial asset acquisition cannot be accurately estimated in advance.

Note 15: Taxes

Table C4: Changes to general government expenses by function since the 2000-01 Budget

Table C4: Changes to general government expenses by function since the 2000-01 Budget (continued)

Table C4: Changes to general government expenses by function since the 2000-01 Budget (continued)



Table C4: Changes to general government expenses by function since the 2000-01 Budget (continued)

Table C4: Changes to general government expenses by function since the 2000-01 Budget (continued)

(a) The Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme has been reclassified from Financial and Fiscal Affairs in general Public Services, to Fuel and Energy, following advice from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as the expense reduces the cost of fuel to the commercial non-transport sector.
(b) Nominal Superannuation Interest has been reclassified from Government Superannuation Benefits in General Public Services, to Other Purposes, following advice from the ABS, as other interest expenses are recorded in Other Purposes.
(c) There has been a reclassification from 1 July 1999 of subsidies paid to aged care facilities (nursing homes), from Health to the Social Security and Welfare function as a result of unifying the nursing homes and hostels systems under reforms of the Residential Aged Care System.

Table C5: Changes to general government expenses by agency since the 2000-01 Budget

Table C5: Changes to general government expenses by agency since the 2000-01 Budget (continued)

(a) The Whole of Government portfolio includes elimination entires for transactions between agencies within the general government sector. These transactions will include grant payments, supply payments, superannuation payments and monies appropriated from the Official Public Account.

Table C6: Changes to net capital investment by portfolio since the 2000-01 Budget