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Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2000-01

Appendix F: Historical Fiscal Data

This appendix provides historical data for Commonwealth fiscal aggregates.

Table F1 provides details of the cash revenue, outlays and surplus for the period 1969-70 to 2003-04. Table F2 provides details of tax, non-tax and total revenue on a cash basis for the period 1969-70 to 2003-04.

Estimates up to and including 1998-99 are on cash terms, while those for 1999-2000 and onwards are cash proxies derived from an accrual framework. Due to methodological and data-source changes associated with the move to an accrual accounting framework, time series data which encompasses measures derived under both cash and accrual accounting should be used with caution.

There are other structural breaks within the data set prior to the shift to accrual reporting. Classification differences and revisions, as well as changes to the structure of the budget, can impact on comparisons over such an extended period.

Following recent changes to the Australian National Accounts standards, the general government surplus measures in this appendix, from 1998-99 onwards, incorporate payments by the Commonwealth general government sector in respect of accumulated public non-financial corporations' (PNFC) superannuation liabilities. Figures for the years prior to 1998-99 do not incorporate these payments.

Other factors which affect the comparability of fiscal aggregates between years include:

• classification differences in the data relating to the period prior to 1976-77 (which mean that data for the earlier period may not be entirely consistent with data for 1976-77 and later years);


• adjustments in the coverage of agencies included in the accounts of the different sectors;


• the reclassification of Central Banking Authorities from the general government to the PFC sector in 1998-99, and subsequent backcasting to account for this change;


• the revaluation of Telstra, in 1999-2000, from book value to market value (which only impacts on net worth);


• the 1998-99 reclassification of fees and fines out of the broader taxes, fees and fines category used in previous years;


• transfers of taxing powers between the Commonwealth and the States;


• other changes in financial arrangements between the Commonwealth budget sector, Commonwealth non-budget sector agencies and the State/local government sector; and


• changes in arrangements for transfer payments where tax concessions or rebates are replaced by payments through the social security system. This has the effect of increasing both cash revenues and outlays as compared with earlier periods, but not changing cash balances. Changes in the opposite direction (tax expenditures replacing outlays) reduce both cash outlays and revenue.

While approximate adjustments can be made to identify trends in budget aggregates on a generally consistent basis, the further back the analysis is taken, the less manageable the task becomes.

Table F3 provides details of Commonwealth general government net debt outcomes from 1974-75 to 1999-2000 and estimates out to 2003-04.

Table F4 details Commonwealth net worth outcomes by sector from 1996-97 to 1999-2000, and estimates out to 2003-04.

Tables F5 to F7 provide details of Commonwealth accrual fiscal aggregates for the period 1996-97 to 2000-01 for the general government sector, the PNFC sector, and the non-financial public sector (NFPS). Estimates of Commonwealth general government sector accrual fiscal aggregates are also provided out to 2003-04.

Table F1: Commonwealth general government sector cash revenue,
outlays and surplus^(a)

(a) There is a break in the series between 1998-99 and 1999-00. Data for the years up to and including 1998-99 are consistent with the cash ABS GFS reporting requirements. From 1999-00 onwards, data are derived from an accrual ABS GFS reporting framework, with revenues proxied by receipts from operating activities and sales of non-financial assets, and outlays proxied by payments for operating activities and purchases of non-financial assets. Due to methodological and data-source changes associated with the change, time series data which encompasses measures derived under both cash and accrual accounting should be used with caution.
(b) Following recent changes to the Australian National Accounts standards, the surplus measures in this table, from 1998-99 onwards, incorporate payments by the general government sector in respect of accumulated PNFC superannuation liabilities. Payments prior to 1998-99 do not incorporate these payments.

Table F2: Commonwealth general government sector cash taxation revenue, non-taxation revenue and total revenue^(a)

(a) There is a break in the series between 1998-99 and 1999-00. Data for the years up to and including 1999-99 are consistent with the cash ABS GFS reporting requirements. From 1999-00 onwards, data are derived from an accrual ABS GFS reporting framework, with total revenue proxied by receipts from operating activities and sales of non-financial assets. Due to methodological and data-source changes associated with the change, time series data which encompasses measures derived under both cash and accrual accounting should be used with caution.

Table F3: Commonwealth general government net debt
(as at end of financial year)^(a)

(a) The net debt series used in this table incorporates Treasury estimates for the period 1974-75 to 1986-87 and published ABS data for the period 1987-88 to 1999-2000 (Public Sector Financial Assets and Liabilities, Cat. No. 5513.0). Comparable net debt data have been collected by the ABS only since 1987-88. Treasury estimates were constructed by deducting annual net borrowing - defined as the ABS cash deficit - from the ABS measure of the stock of net debt at end June 1988.

Table F4: Commonwealth net worth by sector (as at end of financial year)^(a)

(a) Net worth is calculated as assets minus liabilities minus shares and other contributed capital.
(b) The changes in net worth over 1999-2000 are largely attributable to the revaluation of Telstra at market rather than book value.

na Data not available.

Table F5: Commonwealth general government sector GFS revenue, GFS expenses, net capital investment and
fiscal balance

(a) Fiscal balance equals GFS revenue less GFS expenses less net capital investment.
na Data not available.

Table F6: Commonwealth PNFC GFS revenue, GFS expenses, net capital investment and fiscal balance

(a) Fiscal balance equals GFS revenue less GFS expenses less net capital investment.
na Data not available.

Table F7: Commonwealth NFPS GFS revenue, GFS expenses, net capital investment and fiscal balance

(a) Fiscal balance equals GFS revenue less GFS expenses less net capital investment.
na Data not available.