Overview

Australian Government general government expenses are expected to grow in real terms in 2005-06 and over the forward estimates period to 2008-09 (Table 1). Expenses as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) are forecast to fall slightly over the next four years, from 22.6 per cent of GDP in 2004-05 to 22.3 per cent of GDP in 2008-09.

Table 1: Estimates of expenses

1. As published in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2004-05.
2. Real growth is calculated using the non-farm gross domestic product (GDP) deflator.

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