A black and white head shot of Mathias Cormann, who is smiling and wearing a dark jacket, shirt and tie.

Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

Minister for Finance

18 September 2013 to 30 October 2020

Australian Government General Government Sector Monthly Financial Statements February 2016

Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance
Special Minister of State

Date

Key Points 

  • The underlying cash balance for the 2015-16 financial year to 29 February 2016 was a deficit of $38,719 million.
  • The fiscal balance for the 2015-16 financial year to 29 February 2016 was a deficit of $35,292 million.
AGGREGATESACTUAL
2015-2016
February
$m
ACTUAL
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2015-2016
Full Year $m
Revenue39,662248,964250,187400,953
Expenses33,315283,021285,852432,234
Net operating balance6,347-34,057-35,665-31,281
Net capital investment1131,2351,0544,484
Fiscal balance6,234-35,292-36,719-35,765
Receipts(a)37,312242,313244,703394,891
less Payments(b)30,670279,036281,312428,335
less Net Future Fund earnings681,9962,8533,955
Underlying cash balance(c)6,574-38,719-39,462-37,399
Headline cash balance5,522-44,809-47,444-48,171
Total assets 440,323 475,317
Total liabilities 792,746 730,100
Net worth(d) -352,423 -254,783
Net debt(e) 287,920 278,761

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.
(a) Cash receipts for operating activities and sales of non-financial assets.
(b) Cash payments for operating activities, purchases of non-financial assets and net acquisition of assets under finance leases.
(c) Excludes net Future Fund earnings. Consistent with Budget documents, the net adjustment for the Future Fund is shown separately.
(d) Net worth is calculated as total assets minus total liabilities.
(e) Net debt equals the sum of deposits held, government securities, loans and other borrowing, minus the sum of cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements.

Care needs to be taken when comparing monthly or cumulative data across years and to full-year estimates, as revenues and expenses vary from month to month.

FISCAL OUTCOMES

Underlying Cash Balance

The underlying cash balance for the year to 29 February 2016 was a deficit of $38,719 million, compared to the 2015-16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) profile deficit of $39,462 million. The difference of $743 million primarily relates to lower than expected cash payments and net future fund earnings, partially offset by lower than expected cash receipts.

Fiscal Balance

The fiscal balance for the year to 29 February 2016 was a deficit of $35,292 million, compared to the MYEFO profile deficit of $36,719 million. The difference of $1,427 million primarily relates to lower than expected expenses, partially offset by lower than expected revenue.

  • Revenues
    Total revenue was $1,223 million lower than the MYEFO profile, primarily due to lower than expected taxation revenue and dividend income.
  • Expenses
    Total expenses were $2,831 million lower than the MYEFO profile, primarily due to lower than expected supply of goods and services, wages and salaries and grants expenses.

Assets and Liabilities

As at 29 February 2016:

  • Net worth is negative $352,423 million;
  • Net debt is $287,920 million; and
  • Net financial liabilities are $516,561 million.

 

Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance
 
Jane Halton
Secretary
Department of Finance

 
 
 
Contact: Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann's Office:
Department of Finance:
Karen Wu (02) 6277 7400
Liz Pash (02) 6215 2222

Australian Government general government sector operating statement

 NoteACTUAL
2015-2016
February
$m
ACTUAL
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2015-2016
Full Year $m
Revenue     
Taxation revenue1, 238,099235,797236,638375,923
Sales of goods and services 6205,0375,0577,956
Interest income 2562,2682,3444,519
Dividend income 1711,7401,9843,841
Other 5164,1224,1638,714
Total revenue 39,662248,964250,187400,953
Expenses     
Gross operating expenses     
Wages and salaries(a) 1,54512,20312,97020,072
Superannuation 5144,0653,8945,930
Depreciation and amortisation 5204,5554,6547,129
Supply of goods and services 6,57153,57054,76882,423
Other operating expenses(a) 4813,8123,6195,439
Total gross operating expenses 9,63078,20579,905120,992
Superannuation interest expense 7696,1566,1549,231
Interest expenses 1,35710,98611,12517,260
Current transfers     
Current grants 9,35983,84284,403127,737
Subsidy expenses 1,0718,3208,53312,944
Personal benefits 10,04388,68588,899133,402
Total current transfers 20,473180,847181,836274,084
Capital transfers     
Mutually agreed write-downs 1631,1861,2651,887
Other capital grants 9235,6425,5678,780
Total capital transfers 1,0866,8286,83210,667
Total expenses333,315283,021285,852432,234
Net operating balance 6,347-34,057-35,665-31,281
Other economic flows     
- included in operating result(b)     
Net write-downs of assets (including bad and doubtful debts) -2,965-10,509-4,575-8,037
Assets recognised for the first time 27223278322
Liabilities recognised for the first time 0000
Actuarial revaluations 0000
Net foreign exchange gains 231-1,086-520-518
Net swap interest received 5-437-410-410
Market valuation of debt -4,373-9,633-51832
Other gains/(losses) 1,7086,4474,3095,195
Total other economic flows     
- included in operating result -5,367-14,994-970-2,616
Operating result 980-49,051-36,635-33,897
Non-owner movements in equity(b)     
Revaluation of equity investments(c) 03-599846
Actuarial revaluations 000-2,926
Other economic revaluations(d) 6-1,025-5301
Total other economic flows
- included in equity
 5-1,022-1,128-2,079
Comprehensive result
- Total change in net worth
 985-50,074-37,763-35,976
Net operating balance 6,347-34,057-35,665-31,281
Net acquisition of non-financial assets     
Purchases of non-financial assets 6725,9165,85311,661
less Sales of non-financial assets 14302341528
less Depreciation 5204,5554,6547,129
plus Change in inventories -3253138421
plus Other movements in non-financial assets 61225759
Total net acquisition of non-financial assets 1131,2351,0544,484
Fiscal balance (Net lending/borrowing)(e) 6,234-35,292-36,719-35,765

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.
(a) Consistent with Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Government Finance Statistics (GFS) classification, other employee related expenses are reported under other operating expenses. Total employee expenses equal wages and salaries plus other operating expenses.
(b) The presentation of other economic flows has changed to align more closely with Australian Accounting Standard AASB 1049.
(c) Reflects changes in the market valuation of investments and any revaluations at the point of disposal or sale.
(d) Largely reflects other revaluation of assets and liabilities.
(e) The term fiscal balance is not used by the ABS.

Australian Government general government sector balance sheet

 ACTUAL
as at 29 February 2016
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
as at 30 June 2016
$m
Assets  
Financial assets  
Cash and deposits5,5773,872
Advances paid49,40053,218
Investments, loans and placements133,374154,537
Other receivables49,12846,594
Equity investments  
Investments in other public sector entities44,69849,087
Equity accounted investments304315
Investments - shares38,40244,939
Total financial assets320,884352,560
Non-financial assets  
Land9,9189,780
Buildings25,46026,198
Plant, equipment and infrastructure57,30959,667
Inventories8,2098,351
Intangibles6,6256,835
Investment property203187
Biological assets4244
Heritage and cultural assets11,26711,344
Assets held for sale8787
Other non-financial assets320265
Total non-financial assets119,440122,757
Total assets440,323475,317
Liabilities  
Interest bearing liabilities  
Deposits held216218
Government securities462,859472,416
Loans11,52116,191
Other borrowing1,6741,562
Total interest bearing liabilities476,270490,387
Provisions and payables  
Superannuation liability(a)253,400173,958
Other employee liabilities16,62117,059
Suppliers payable5,2025,972
Personal benefits provisions and payable11,81613,304
Subsidies provisions and payable4,8745,035
Grants provisions and payable10,4309,397
Other provisions and payables14,13314,990
Total provisions and payables316,476239,714
Total liabilities792,746730,100
Net worth(b)-352,423-254,783
Net financial worth(c)-471,863-377,540
Net financial liabilities(d)516,561426,627
Net debt(e)287,920278,761

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.
(a) For budget reporting purposes, a discount rate applied by actuaries in preparing Long Term Cost Reports is used to value the superannuation liability. This reduces the volatility in reported liabilities that would occur from year to year if the long-term government bond rate were used. Consistent with Australian Accounting Standards, the long-term government bond rate as at 30 June is used to calculate the superannuation liability for the purpose of actuals reporting.
(b) Net worth is calculated as total assets minus total liabilities.
(c) Net financial worth equals total financial assets minus total liabilities.
(d) Net financial liabilities equals total liabilities less financial assets other than investments in other public sector entities.
(e) Net debt equals the sum of deposits held, government securities, loans and other borrowing, minus the sum of cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements.

Australian Government general government sector cash flow statement(a)

 ACTUAL
2015-2016
February
$m
ACTUAL
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2015-2016
Full Year $m
Cash receipts from operating activities    
Taxes received35,985228,022229,652368,230
Receipts from sales of goods and services6624,6514,7297,870
Interest receipts1281,7561,8933,874
Dividends and income tax equivalents1023,3463,4664,516
Other receipts4254,3384,4668,505
Total operating receipts37,302242,114244,206392,995
Cash payments for operating activities    
Payments for employees-2,075-17,694-18,095-28,130
Payments for goods and services-6,218-53,438-54,802-82,104
Grants and subsidies paid-11,220-98,480-98,132-150,706
Interest paid-631-9,075-9,106-15,040
Personal benefit payments-9,533-91,085-91,479-135,228
Other payments-413-3,786-3,721-5,313
Total operating payments-30,090-273,558-275,336-416,521
Net cash flows from operating activities7,212-31,444-31,130-23,526
Cash flows from investments in non-financial assets    
Sales of non-financial assets101994971,896
Purchases of non-financial assets-579-5,419-5,975-11,812
Net cash flows from investments in non-financial assets-569-5,220-5,478-9,917
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes-1,120-8,086-10,835-14,727
Cash flows from investments in financial assets for liquidity purposes    
Increase in investments-5,1975,215-6,334-13,132
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for liquidity purposes-5,1975,215-6,334-13,132
Cash flows from financing activities    
Borrowing (net)2,42843,73356,20564,552
Other financing (net)-120-1,775-1,752-2,535
Net cash flows from financing activities2,30841,95854,45362,017
Net increase/(decrease) in cash held2,6332,421675716
Net cash flows from operating activities and investments in non-financial assets (Surplus(+)/deficit(-))6,643-36,665-36,608-33,443
Finance leases and similar arrangements(b)-1-58-1-2
GFS cash surplus(+)/deficit(-)6,642-36,723-36,609-33,444
less Net Future Fund earnings681,9962,8533,955
Equals underlying cash balance(c)6,574-38,719-39,462-37,399
plus Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes-1,120-8,086-10,835-14,727
plus Net Future Fund earnings681,9962,8533,955
Equals headline cash balance5,522-44,809-47,444-48,171

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.
(a) A positive number denotes a cash inflow; a negative sign denotes a cash outflow.
(b) The acquisition of assets under finance leases decreases the underlying cash balance.The disposal of assets previously held under finance leases increases the underlying cash.
(c) The term underlying cash balance is not used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Note 1: Income Tax

 ACTUAL
2015-2016
February
$m
ACTUAL
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2015-2016
Full Year $m
 
Individuals and other withholding taxes     
Gross income tax withholding16,126115,592116,363176,550 
Gross other individuals4,24223,79323,42944,310 
less Refunds1,11923,18922,87927,500 
Total individuals and other withholding taxation19,249116,196116,914193,360 
Fringe benefits tax2113,1433,1424,610 
Company tax5,84740,84841,59067,996 
Superannuation funds5435,2245,9387,780 
Resource rent taxes0558760960 
Total income taxation revenue25,850165,969168,344274,706 

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.

Note 2: Indirect Tax

 ACTUAL
2015-2016
February
$m
ACTUAL
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2015-2016
Full Year $m
 
Goods and services tax8,49741,36740,73459,790 
Wine equalisation tax86610579850 
Luxury car tax47393371520 
Excise duty1,96014,53214,47421,393 
Customs duty1,2469,1338,46612,910 
Other indirect tax4123,7923,6695,754 
Total indirect taxation revenue12,24869,82768,294101,217 

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.

Note 3: Total expenses by function

 ACTUAL
2015-2016
February
$m
ACTUAL
2015-2016
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2015-2016
Full Year $m
Expenses by function   
General public services1,84813,87222,639
Defence2,08517,43726,559
Public order and safety3423,2024,958
Education1,81224,20832,478
Health5,55244,06368,686
Social security and welfare11,360102,186152,782
Housing and community amenities3252,8585,434
Recreation and culture3702,2193,440
Fuel and energy5594,3916,773
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing1731,2733,119
Mining, manufacturing and construction2952,1443,619
Transport and communication6823,5658,882
Other economic affairs7295,91010,131
Other purposes   
Public debt interest1,27510,18415,680
Nominal superannuation interest7696,1569,231
General purpose inter-government transactions5,13839,35359,239
Natural disaster relief0040
Contingency reserve00-1,456
Total expenses33,315283,021432,234

*As published in the 2015-16 MYEFO.

NOTES:

Australian Accounting Standard 1049

The Australian Government monthly financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the Budget as required under section 47 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The statements are prepared in accordance with the Australian Accounting Standards Board 1049 – Whole of Government and General Government Sector Financial Reporting (AASB 1049), which require treatment based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Government Finance Statistics (GFS) except where Australian Accounting Standards (AAS) provide a better conceptual treatment for specific items. Departures are limited to complying with either ABS GFS or AAS.

Taxation Revenue

While total tax collections are known with certainty at the end of each month, the distribution across the relevant heads of revenue cannot be finalised until all business activity statements are received and processed. The outcomes for some revenue items provided in this statement are therefore estimates, in accordance with the best judgement of the Commissioner of Taxation, and subject to revision. The taxation revenue items not affected are: petroleum resource rent tax, excise duty, customs duty, other taxes and individuals refunds.

Style Conventions

Figures in tables and generally in the text have been rounded. Discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of components are due to rounding.

International Monetary Fund Special Data Dissemination Standards

The Government is committed to releasing the monthly financial statements in a timely fashion and will endeavour to do so in accordance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS). Under these standards the timeframe for releasing the monthly financial statements is by the end of the following month. Australia applies a special flexibility option which allows it to publish late the last and first month of a financial year.

In accordance with the IMF SDDS, the approximate date of release of the data on debt guaranteed by the Australian Government (central government), is given on the IMF’s Data Dissemination Advance Release Calendar http://dsbb.imf.org. Monthly and quarterly data on debt guaranteed by the Australian Government (central government) that meet the coverage and timeliness requirements of the SDDS are published on the Australian Office of Financial Management website at http://aofm.gov.au/cgs-quarterly/quarterley-data-december-2015/.

Electronic access to monthly financial statements

The Australian Government general government sector monthly financial statements and the historical series are available in electronic format at: http://data.gov.au/dataset/australian-government-general-government-sector-monthly-financial-statements-tables-and-data.

Media Contact(s)

Karen Wu - 0428 350 139