Appendix C: Historical Fiscal Data
This appendix provides historical data for Commonwealth fiscal aggregates.
Estimates up to, and including, 1998-99 are on cash terms, while those for
1999-2000 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 that encompass 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 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
PNFC superannuation liabilities. Figures for the years prior to 1998-99 do not
incorporate these payments.
Other factors that affect the comparability of data between years include:
- classification differences in the data relating to the period prior to
1976-77 (which means that earlier data may not be entirely consistent with
data for 1976-77 onwards);
- adjustments in the coverage of agencies included in the accounts of the
different sectors. These include 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;
- transfers of taxing powers between the Commonwealth and the States;
- other changes in financial arrangements between the Commonwealth 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 C1: Commonwealth general
government sector receipts, payments and surplus(a)
- There is a break in the series between 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Data for
the years up to and including 1998-99 are consistent with the cash ABS Government
Finance Statistics (GFS) reporting requirements. From 1999-2000 onwards, data
are derived from an accrual ABS GFS reporting framework, with receipts proxied
by receipts from operating activities and sales of non-financial assets, and
payments proxied by payments for operating activities, purchases of non-financial
assets and net acquisition of assets under finance leases. Due to associated
methodological and data-source changes, time series data that encompass measures
derived under both cash and accrual accounting should be used with caution.
- 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 public non-financial
corporations (PNFC) superannuation liabilities. These payments are not incorporated
prior to 1998-99.
na Not applicable, due to a structural break
in the series.
Table C2: Commonwealth general
government sector taxation receipts, non-taxation receipts and total receipts(a)
- There is a break in the series between 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Data for
the years up to and including 1998-99 are consistent with the cash ABS GFS
reporting requirements. From 1999-2000 onwards, data are derived from an accrual
ABS GFS reporting framework. From 1999-2000, the category `Non-taxation receipts'
includes many large items that were netted off payments in outcomes prior
to this time, namely `receipts from sales of goods and services', `receipts
from sales of non-financial assets' and `other receipts'. From 2000-01, the
category `non-taxation receipts' also includes `GST input credit receipts'.
Due to associated methodological and data-source changes, time series data
that encompass measures derived under both cash and accrual accounting should
be used with caution.
na Not applicable, due to a structural break
in the series.
Table C3: Commonwealth receipts
(cash basis)
- Includes Medicare levy receipts ($4,745 million in 2000-01 and $4,970 million
in 2001-02).
- Previously reported as Pay As You Go (Withholding) and other withholding.
Other withholding was previously reported under company and other income tax,
and includes amounts withheld for failure to quote a Tax File Number or an
Australian Business Number, interest, dividends and royalty payments to non-residents,
and payments to aboriginal groups for the use of land for mineral exploration
and mining.
- Includes the wine equalisation tax, luxury car tax and the final wholesale
sales tax liability.
- Consistent with GFS reporting standards, excludes fringe benefits tax collected
from Commonwealth government agencies ($285 million in 2000-01 and $360 million
in 2001-02).
Table C4: Commonwealth general
government sector net debt and net interest payments(a)
- Source: ABS Cat. No. 5513.0, 5501.0, Commonwealth Final Budget Outcomes
and Treasury estimates.
Table C5: Commonwealth general
government sector revenue, expenses, net capital investment, fiscal balance
and net worth(a)
- The fiscal balance is equal to revenue less expenses less net capital investment.
Net worth is calculated as assets minus liabilities minus shares and other
contributed capital.
- There is a break in the net worth series between 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
Data up to 1998-99 are sourced from the Commonwealth's Consolidated Financial
Statements based on Australian accounting standards. Data beginning in 1999-2000
are based on the GFS framework. For the general government sector, the major
change across the break in the series is an improvement in net worth. This
is primarily due to the move from valuing investments in public corporations
at historic cost to current market value (which is calculated using the share
price for listed corporations). This is partly offset by defence weapons platforms
no longer being recorded as assets.
Table C6: Commonwealth general
government sector accrual taxation revenue, non-taxation revenue and total revenue
na Data not available.
Table C7: Commonwealth revenue
(accrual basis)
- Includes Medicare levy revenue ($4,745 million in 2000-01 and $4,970 million
in 2001-02).
- Previously reported as Pay As You Go (Withholding) and other withholding.
Other withholding was previously reported under company and other income tax,
and includes amounts withheld for failure to quote a Tax File Number or an
Australian Business Number, interest, dividends and royalty payments to non-residents,
and payments to aboriginal groups for the use of land for mineral exploration
and mining.
- Includes the wine equalisation tax, luxury car tax and the final wholesale
sales tax liability.
- Consistent with GFS reporting standards, excludes fringe benefits tax from
Commonwealth government agencies ($285 million in 2000-01 and $360 million
in 2001-02).
Table C8: Commonwealth cash
receipts, payments and cash surplus by institutional sector ($m)(a)
- There is a break in the series between 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Data for the
years up to and including 1998-99 are consistent with the cash ABS GFS reporting
requirements. From 1999-2000 onwards, data are derived from an accrual
ABS GFS reporting framework, with receipts proxied by receipts from operating
activities and sales of non-financial assets, and payments proxied by payments
for operating activities, purchases of non-financial assets and net acquisition
of assets under finance leases. Due to associated methodological and data-source
changes, time series data that encompass measures derived under both cash
and accrual accounting should be used with caution.
- 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. These payments are not incorporated prior to 1998-99.
na Data not available.
Table C9: Commonwealth accrual revenue, expenses and
fiscal balance by institutional sector ($m)(a)
- The fiscal balance is equal to revenue less expenses less net capital investment.
Net capital investment is not shown in this table.
na Data not available.
