This chart shows total Australian Government general government sector expenses, as a per cent of GDP, from 2000-01 to 2017-18. Over the last seven years, total expenditure rose as a percentage of GDP from 24.8 per cent in 2007-08 to a forecast 26.2 per cent in 2013-14. Over the forward estimates, expenses are expected to decline to 25.3 per cent of GDP in 2017-18.

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This chart shows the proportion of total Australian Government general government sector expenses by function in 2014-15. Around one third of total expenses is spent on programmes within the social security and welfare function, and another one sixth of government expenses is spent on programmes within the health function. The Government also provides significant investment under the education and defence functions, with the remainder spent on a range of other public services.

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This chart shows total real growth, in $millions, by function over the period 2014-15 to 2017-18. Social security and welfare expenses are estimated to grow strongly over the forward estimates, followed by growth in the health, defence, education and fuel and energy functions. All other functions are estimated to have negative real growth over this period.

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