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)

(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.
(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 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)

(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)

(a)	Includes Medicare levy receipts ($4,745 million in 2000‑01 and $4,970 million in 2001‑02).
(b)	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.
(c)	Includes the wine equalisation tax, luxury car tax and the final wholesale sales tax liability.
(d)	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)

(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)

(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.
(b)	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)

(a)	Includes Medicare levy revenue ($4,745 million in 2000‑01 and $4,970 million in 2001‑02).
(b)	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.
(c)	Includes the wine equalisation tax, luxury car tax and the final wholesale sales tax liability.
(d)	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)

(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.
(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. 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)

(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.