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 2019

Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance and the Public Service
Leader of the Government in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia

Date

KEY POINTS

  • The underlying cash balance for the 2018-19 financial year to 28 February 2019 was a deficit of $10,657 million.
  • The fiscal balance for the 2018-19 financial year to 28 February 2019 was a deficit of $2,825 million.
AGGREGATESACTUAL
2018-2019
February
$m
ACTUAL
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2018-2019
FULL YEAR
$m
Revenue47,646317,161314,630493,288
Expenses36,922318,244320,511488,363
Net operating balance10,724-1,082-5,8814,926
Net capital investment-761,7422,4106,826
Fiscal balance10,801-2,825-8,291-1,901
Receipts(a)45,950307,990308,153482,084
less Payments(b)34,520313,769316,642483,370
less Net Future Fund earnings2314,8774,9713,886
Underlying cash balance(c)11,199-10,657-13,460-5,172
Headline cash balance9,705-15,879-19,406-18,329
Total assets 569,084 580,554
Total liabilities 1,010,598 901,307
Net worth(d) -441,514 -320,753
Net debt(e) 370,901 351,948

*As published in the 2018-19 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 interest bearing liabilities (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 revenue and expenses vary from month to month.

Comparators for the February 2019 monthly financial statements are based on the 2018-19 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) published in December 2018.

 

FISCAL OUTCOMES

Underlying Cash Balance

The underlying cash balance for the financial year to 28 February 2019 was a deficit of $10,657 million, which is $2,804 million lower than the 2018-19 MYEFO profile deficit of $13,460 million.

  • Receipts
    Total receipts were $163 million lower than the 2018-19 MYEFO profile.
  • Payments
    Total payments were $2,873 million lower than the 2018-19 MYEFO profile.

Net Operating Balance

The net operating balance for the year to 28 February 2019 was a deficit of $1,082 million, which is $4,798 million lower than the 2018-19 MYEFO profile deficit of $5,881 million. The difference primarily results from higher than expected revenue and lower expenses.

Fiscal Balance

The fiscal balance for the year to 28 February 2019 was a deficit of $2,825 million, which is $5,466 million lower than the 2018-19 MYEFO profile deficit of $8,291 million. As with the net operating balance, the difference primarily results from higher than expected revenue, lower expenses and lower net capital investments.

Assets and Liabilities

As at 28 February 2019:

  • net worth is negative $441,514 million;
  • net debt is $370,901 million; and
  • net financial liabilities are $646,947 million.
Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance and the Public Service
Rosemary Huxtable PSM
Secretary
Department of Finance
Media Contact 
Karen Wu    0428 350 139

Australian Government general government sector operating statement

 NoteACTUAL
2018-2019
February
$m
ACTUAL
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2018-2019
FULL YEAR
$m
Revenue     
Taxation revenue1, 245,091293,865291,594457,997
Sales of goods and services 1,0538,4488,38814,024
Interest income 3502,9112,8914,810
Dividend income 3104,8404,8334,648
Other 8427,0976,92411,809
Total revenue 47,646317,161314,630493,288
Expenses     
Gross operating expenses     
Wages and salaries(a) 1,59412,94813,35420,551
Superannuation 7316,1145,6399,291
Depreciation and amortisation 8345,7615,7648,606
Supply of goods and services 9,19873,68674,252118,012
Other operating expenses(a) 6234,4834,4496,677
Total gross operating expenses 12,980102,991103,458163,136
Superannuation interest expense 7876,2976,3529,446
Interest expenses 1,38211,94112,03318,498
Current transfers     
Current grants 10,743101,415101,553149,036
Subsidy expenses 9567,6947,66711,491
Personal benefits 9,38084,08384,508125,837
Total current transfers 21,079193,192193,728286,364
Capital transfers     
Mutually agreed write-downs 1018548981,450
Other capital grants 5922,9684,0429,469
Total capital transfers 6943,8224,94010,919
Total expenses336,922318,244320,511488,363
Net operating balance 10,724-1,082-5,8814,926
Other economic flows     
- included in operating result     
Net write-downs of assets (including bad and doubtful debts) 1,984-4,941-5,071-8,202
Assets recognised for the first time 7112134200
Actuarial revaluations 6464670
Net foreign exchange gains -782-97464-269
Net swap interest received -34-390-355-218
Market valuation of debt -4,610-16,199-3,102-2,282
Other gains/(losses) 431,278-1,5067,491
Total other economic flows
- included in operating result
 -3,387-21,068-9,790-3,211
Operating Result (b) 7,338-22,150-15,6711,715
Non-owner movements in equity     
Revaluation of equity investments -11254-3,529
Actuarial revaluations 000-5,794
Other economic revaluations -2,103-1,229796-76
Total other economic flows
- included in equity
 -2,104-1,2291,050-9,399
Comprehensive result
- Total change in net worth
 5,234-23,379-14,620-7,685
Net operating balance 10,724-1,082-5,8814,926
Net acquisition of non-financial assets     
Purchases of non-financial assets 7047,5328,22815,556
less Sales of non-financial assets 39114115285
less Depreciation 8345,7615,7648,606
plus Change in inventories 923140159
plus Other movements in non-financial assets 054202
Total net acquisition of non-financial assets -761,7422,4106,826
Fiscal balance (Net lending/borrowing)(c) 10,801-2,825-8,291-1,901

As published in the 2018-19 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) Operating result under Australian Accounting Standards.
(c) The term fiscal balance is not used by the ABS.

Australian Government general government sector balance sheet

 ACTUAL
as at 28 February 2019
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
as at 30 June 2019
$m
Assets  
Financial assets  
Cash and deposits7,9725,849
Advances paid64,25772,662
Investments, loans and placements178,226174,371
Other receivables56,77854,623
Equity investments  
Investments in other public sector entities59,21056,251
Equity accounted investments119265
Investments - shares56,29866,355
Total financial assets422,861430,375
Non-financial assets  
Land11,66911,492
Buildings26,42327,078
Plant, equipment and infrastructure79,63481,751
Inventories8,5478,437
Intangibles7,9199,397
Investment properties170173
Biological assets1936
Heritage and cultural assets11,59611,599
Assets held for sale160181
Other non-financial assets8634
Total non-financial assets146,223150,178
Total assets569,084580,554
Liabilities  
Interest bearing liabilities  
Deposits held326381
Government securities602,556586,341
Loans16,93616,615
Other borrowing1,5401,493
Total interest bearing liabilities621,357604,830
Provisions and payables  
Superannuation liability(a)319,905223,589
Other employee liabilities20,00220,175
Suppliers payables5,6837,392
Personal benefits payables2,7293,359
Subsidies payables461508
Grants payables2,5653,710
Other payables2,0932,176
Provisions35,80235,568
Total provisions and payables389,241296,477
Total liabilities1,010,598901,307
Net worth(b)-441,514-320,753
Net financial worth(c)-587,737-470,932
Net financial liabilities(d)646,947527,182
Net debt(e)370,901351,948

*As published in the 2018-19 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, that best matches each individual scheme's liability duration, is used to calculate the superannuation liability for the purpose of actuals reporting.
(b) Net worth equals 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 interest bearing liabilities (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
2018-2019
February
$m
ACTUAL
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2018-2019
FULL YEAR
$m
Cash receipts from operating activities    
Taxes received43,491283,451283,795447,645
Receipts from sales of goods and services9937,9468,14814,180
Interest receipts2512,6502,6154,397
Dividends and income tax equivalents4965,7525,4484,390
Other receipts6857,6587,59910,751
Total operating receipts45,917307,457307,605481,363
Cash payments for operating activities    
Payments for employees-2,224-18,689-19,121-30,191
Payments for goods and services-8,983-74,271-74,646-117,058
Grants and subsidies paid-12,448-113,065-113,995-169,851
Interest paid-183-10,807-10,861-18,385
Personal benefit payments-9,379-85,254-85,838-126,483
Other payments-667-4,580-4,381-6,286
Total operating payments-33,885-306,666-308,843-468,255
Net cash flows from operating activities12,031791-1,23813,108
Cash flows from investments in non-financial assets    
Sales of non-financial assets34532548720
Purchases of non-financial assets-635-7,101-7,799-15,115
Net cash flows from investments in non-financial assets-601-6,569-7,251-14,395
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes-1,725-10,100-10,917-17,042
Cash flows from investments in financial assets for liquidity purposes    
Increase in investments-12,8197,96312,2288,905
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for liquidity purposes-12,8197,96312,2288,905
Cash flows from financing activities    
Borrowing (net)3,60410,90713,23811,254
Other financing (net)-25-1,804-1,878-2,764
Net cash flows from financing activities3,5799,10311,3608,490
Net increase/(decrease) in cash held4651,1894,183-934
GFS cash surplus(+)/deficit(-)(b)11,430-5,778-8,489-1,286
less Finance leases and similar arrangements(c)0200
less Net Future Fund earnings2314,8774,9713,886
Equals underlying cash balance(d)11,199-10,657-13,460-5,172
plus Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes-1,725-10,100-10,917-17,042
plus Net Future Fund earnings2314,8774,9713,886
Equals headline cash balance9,705-15,879-19,406-18,329

*As published in the 2018-19 MYEFO.
(a) A positive number denotes a cash inflow; a negative number denotes a cash outflow.
(b) GFS cash surplus/deficit equals net cash flows from operating activities and investments in non-financial assets.
(c) The acquisition of assets under finance leases worsens the underlying cash balance. The disposal of assets previously held under finance leases improves the underlying cash balance.
(d) The term underlying cash balance is not used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Note 1: Income Tax

 ACTUAL
2018-2019
February
$m
ACTUAL
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2018-2019
FULL YEAR
$m
 
Individuals and other withholding taxes     
Gross income tax withholding18,996137,333136,637207,600 
Gross other individuals4,54227,55726,88249,500 
less Refunds99424,36324,48430,000 
Total individuals and other withholding taxation22,544140,527139,035227,100 
Fringe benefits tax1952,7432,7103,930 
Company tax7,85560,14959,60094,500 
Superannuation fund taxes8658,9708,27010,670 
Petroleum resource rent tax718251,0201,480 
Total income taxation revenue31,530213,214210,634337,680 

*As published in the 2018-19 MYEFO.

Note 2: Indirect Tax

 ACTUAL
2018-2019
February
$m
ACTUAL
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO Profile
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2018-2019
FULL YEAR
$m
 
Goods and services tax8,61446,92747,42869,180 
Wine equalisation tax997017161,050 
Luxury car tax48437458700 
Excise duty1,73515,84515,70323,385 
Customs duty1,92610,49310,58116,750 
Other indirect tax1,1406,2486,0759,252 
Total indirect taxation revenue13,56180,65180,960120,317 

*As published in the 2018-19 MYEFO.

Note 3: Total expenses by function

 ACTUAL
2018-2019
February
$m
ACTUAL
2018-2019
YTD February
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2018-2019
FULL YEAR
$m
Expenses by function   
General public services1,97618,76326,193
Defence2,74520,14830,594
Public order and safety5203,7095,544
Education1,66927,22235,170
Health6,55449,52780,183
Social security and welfare12,494111,966174,684
Housing and community amenities4462,8855,647
Recreation and culture3232,3533,949
Fuel and energy6604,9327,716
Agriculture, forestry and fishing2241,4813,196
Mining, manufacturing and construction1611,8172,915
Transport and communication3913,2878,455
Other economic affairs7436,19010,039
Other purposes   
Public debt interest1,33011,46217,235
Nominal superannuation interest7876,2979,446
General purpose inter-government transactions5,89946,20668,953
Natural disaster relief00153
Contingency reserve00-1,706
Total expenses36,922318,244488,363

*As published in the 2018-19 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/ .

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