Australian Government General Government Sector Monthly Financial Statements for March 2025

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Thursday, 24 April 2025

KEY POINTS

  • The Monthly Financial Statements for March 2025 report the budget position against the expected monthly profile for the 2024‑25 financial year through to 31 March 2025, based on the 2024‑25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) estimates published in December 2024.
  • The 2024-25 estimates were revised as part of the 2025‑26 Budget and will be used as the basis of comparison from the April 2025 Monthly Financial Statements.
  • The underlying cash balance for the 2024‑25 financial year to 31 March 2025 was a deficit of $21.2 billion.
  • The fiscal balance for the 2024‑25 financial year to 31 March 2025 was a deficit of $16.3 billion.
AGGREGATES(a) ACTUAL
2024-2025
March
$b
ACTUAL
2024-2025
YTD March
$b
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$b
REVISED BUDGET
ESTIMATE^
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$b
Receipts(b) 58.1 513.5 704.2 703.9
Payments(c) 57.1 534.7 731.1 731.5
Underlying cash balance 1.0 -21.2 -26.9 -27.6
Headline cash balance -0.2 -29.4 -47.8 -46.7
Revenue 60.2 528.0 718.3 717.6
Expenses 61.2 542.0 758.6 762.8
Net operating balance -1.0 -14.0 -40.4 -45.2
Net capital investment 0.8 2.3 5.5 5.5
Fiscal balance -1.7 -16.3 -45.9 -50.6
Total assets 899.5 851.5 857.6
Total liabilities 1,455.0 1,422.1 1,428.1
Net worth(d) -555.5 -570.6 -570.5
Net debt(e) 539.3 540.0 556.0

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.
^ As published in the 2025-26 Budget.
(a) Discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of components are due to rounding. 
(b) Cash receipts for operating activities and sales of non-financial assets.
(c) Cash payments for operating activities, purchases of non-financial assets and principal payments of lease liabilities.
(d) Net worth is calculated as total assets minus total liabilities.
(e) Net debt is the sum of interest bearing liabilities less the sum of selected financial assets (cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements).

Monthly results are generally volatile due to timing differences between revenue and receipts, and expenses and payments. Care needs to be taken when comparing monthly or cumulative data across years and to full-year estimates, as revenue and receipts and expenses and payments vary from month to month.

FISCAL OUTCOMES

Underlying Cash Balance

The underlying cash balance for the financial year to 31 March 2025 was a deficit of $21.2 billion.

  • Receipts
    Total receipts were $513.5 billion.
  • Payments
    Total payments were $534.7 billion.

Net Operating Balance

The net operating balance for the financial year to 31 March 2025 was a deficit of $14.0 billion.

Fiscal Balance

The fiscal balance for the financial year to 31 March 2025 was a deficit of $16.3 billion.

Assets and Liabilities

As at 31 March 2025:

  • net worth is negative $555.5 billion;
  • net debt is $539.3 billion; and
  • net financial liabilities are $821.7 billion.
Jenny Wilkinson PSM
Secretary
Department of Finance
 


 
Media Contact 
Department of Finance Media Enquiries02 6215 2665

Australian Government general government sector operating statement

Note ACTUAL
2024-2025
March
$m
ACTUAL
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO Profile
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$m
Revenue
Taxation revenue 1,2 56,236 487,826 477,083 663,609
Sales of goods and services 871 15,960 15,571 21,067
Interest income 913 7,297 6,980 11,046
Dividend and distribution income 809 5,389 5,404 7,137
Other 1,380 11,543 10,993 15,394
Total revenue 60,208 528,015 516,030 718,253
Expenses
Gross operating expenses
Wages and salaries(a) 2,531 21,446 21,702 29,452
Superannuation 794 6,878 6,632 8,791
Depreciation and amortisation 1,208 10,405 10,028 13,708
Supply of goods and services 17,578 153,054 156,889 214,694
Other operating expenses(a) 1,472 10,551 10,007 12,674
Total gross operating expenses 23,583 202,335 205,257 279,319
Superannuation interest expense 1,180 10,623 10,574 14,241
Interest expenses 2,754 21,354 21,447 31,499
Current transfers
Current grants 15,508 161,092 161,597 217,606
Subsidy expenses 1,610 14,099 14,039 18,955
Personal benefits 13,781 122,271 121,798 161,934
Total current transfers 30,899 297,462 297,434 398,495
Capital transfers
Mutually agreed write-downs 522 2,206 1,762 14,894
Other capital grants 2,226 8,066 9,374 20,200
Total capital transfers 2,748 10,272 11,136 35,093
Total expenses 3 61,164 542,046 545,848 758,648
Net operating balance -956 -14,031 -29,818 -40,394
Other economic flows
- included in operating result
Net write-downs of assets -1,362 -10,633 -9,182 -13,350
Assets recognised for the first time 25 263 238 368
Actuarial revaluations -3 -17 -17 -806
Net foreign exchange gains 30 318 -74 273
Net swap interest received -108 -1,447 -469 -187
Market valuation of debt 1,522 -10,541 -3,461 -7,018
Other gains/(losses) -3,369 12,988 9,976 7,005
Total other economic flows
- included in operating result
-3,264 -9,069 -2,990 -13,715
Operating result(b) -4,220 -23,100 -32,807 -54,109
Non-owner movements in equity
Revaluation of equity investments 12 -60 -72 -1,052
Actuarial revaluations 0 0 0 -7,520
Other economic revaluations 284 1,012 604 719
Total other economic flows
- included in equity
296 952 532 -7,853
Comprehensive result
- Total change in net worth
-3,924 -22,148 -32,275 -61,962
Net operating balance -956 -14,031 -29,818 -40,394
Net acquisition of non-financial assets
Purchases of non-financial assets 1,992 14,123 14,956 21,875
less Sales of non-financial assets 56 2,244 2,159 2,503
less Depreciation 1,208 10,405 10,028 13,708
plus Change in inventories 49 795 514 -171
plus Other movements in non-financial assets 0 4 2 0
Total net acquisition of non-financial assets 777 2,273 3,284 5,493
Fiscal balance (Net lending/borrowing)(c) -1,733 -16,304 -33,102 -45,887

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.
(a) Consistent with the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Government Finance Statistics (GFS) classification, other employee related expenses are classified separately from wages and salaries 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 31 March 2025
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
as at 30 June 2025
$m
Assets
Financial assets
Cash and deposits 104,540 72,301
Advances paid 75,393 67,346
Investments, loans and placements 236,212 250,888
Other receivables 99,021 85,311
Equity investments
Investments in other public sector entities 49,175 51,407
Equity accounted investments 6,223 6,311
Investments - shares 111,922 97,372
Total financial assets 682,486 630,937
Non-financial assets
Land 14,694 14,733
Buildings 50,169 51,798
Plant, equipment and infrastructure 112,987 114,601
Inventories 12,152 11,477
Intangibles 13,879 14,836
Investment properties 242 233
Biological assets 5 5
Heritage and cultural assets 12,818 12,792
Assets held for sale 83 86
Other non-financial assets 9 5
Total non-financial assets 217,038 220,566
Total assets 899,524 851,503
Liabilities
Interest bearing liabilities
Deposits held 210 418
Government securities 905,434 879,842
Loans 31,380 32,250
Lease liabilities 18,469 18,066
Total interest bearing liabilities 955,493 930,575
Provisions and payables
Superannuation liability(a) 316,326 302,602
Other employee liabilities 61,455 62,260
Suppliers payables 13,770 15,815
Personal benefits payables 4,069 4,327
Subsidies payables 579 680
Grants payables 3,082 5,957
Other payables 10,612 6,372
Provisions 89,642 93,515
Total provisions and payables 499,536 491,527
Total liabilities 1,455,029 1,422,102
Net worth(b) -555,505 -570,599
Net financial worth(c) -772,543 -791,164
Net financial liabilities(d) 821,718 842,571
Net debt(e) 539,348 540,039

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.
(a) For budget reporting purposes, a discount rate of 5.0 per cent determined by actuaries is used to value the superannuation liability. This reflects the average annual rate estimated to apply over the term of the liability and it reduces the volatility in reported liabilities that would occur from year to year if the spot rates on long-term government bonds were used. Consistent with Australian Accounting Standards, the superannuation liability for the 2024-25 Monthly Financial Statements was calculated using the spot rates on long-term government bonds as at 30 June 2024 that best matched each individual scheme’s liability duration. These rates were between 4.2 and 4.8 per cent per annum.
(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 is the sum of interest bearing liabilities less the sum of selected financial assets (cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements).

Australian Government general government sector cash flow statement(a)

ACTUAL
2024-2025
March
$m
ACTUAL
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO Profile
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$m
Cash receipts from operating activities
Taxes received 54,065 468,503 461,786 645,565
Receipts from sales of goods and services 804 16,754 16,522 22,039
Interest receipts 640 7,880 7,741 9,968
Dividends, distributions and income tax equivalents 773 5,478 5,518 7,206
Other receipts 1,796 14,619 14,284 19,142
Total operating receipts 58,078 513,233 505,851 703,919
Cash payments for operating activities
Payments for employees(b) -3,801 -35,137 -34,925 -46,906
Payments for goods and services -16,928 -153,186 -156,634 -211,530
Grants and subsidies paid -18,847 -183,517 -186,290 -251,369
Interest paid -993 -13,476 -13,444 -24,579
Personal benefit payments -13,115 -123,297 -122,797 -162,616
Other payments(b) -941 -9,477 -9,080 -11,800
Total operating payments -54,625 -518,090 -523,169 -708,799
Net cash flows from operating activities 3,453 -4,857 -17,318 -4,880
Cash flows from investments in non-financial assets
Sales of non-financial assets 3 246 197 266
Purchases of non-financial assets -2,261 -14,572 -15,017 -19,562
Net cash flows from investments in non-financial assets -2,258 -14,325 -14,821 -19,296
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes -1,157 -8,157 -11,632 -20,816
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for liquidity purposes -616 -6,602 -7,420 -4,842
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowing (net) 9,944 46,005 39,885 29,989
Other financing (net) -312 -4,842 -3,601 -5,172
Net cash flows from financing activities 9,632 41,163 36,285 24,817
Net increase/(decrease) in cash held 9,054 7,222 -14,906 -25,016
GFS cash surplus(+)/deficit(-)(c) 1,195 -19,182 -32,139 -24,176
plus Principal payments of lease liabilities(d) -238 -2,035 -2,007 -2,772
Equals underlying cash balance(e) 957 -21,216 -34,145 -26,949
plus Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes -1,157 -8,157 -11,632 -20,816
Equals headline cash balance -199 -29,373 -45,777 -47,764

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.
(a) A positive number denotes a cash inflow; a negative number denotes a cash outflow.
(b) Consistent with the ABS GFS classification, other employee related payments are classified separately from wages and salaries under other payments.
(c) GFS cash surplus/deficit equals net cash flows from operating activities and investments in non-financial assets. 
(d) Principal payments of lease liabilities, which are financing cash payments, are deducted in the calculation of the underlying cash balance to maintain consistency of measure following the implementation of AASB 16.
(e) The term underlying cash balance is not used by the ABS.

Note 1: Income Tax

ACTUAL
2024-2025
March
$m
ACTUAL
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO Profile
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$m
Individuals and other withholding taxes
Gross income tax withholding 26,718 222,876 222,607 296,800
Gross other individuals 9,947 56,508 54,591 87,400
less Refunds 1,633 33,715 34,179 39,900
Total individuals and other withholding taxation 35,032 245,669 243,019 344,300
Fringe benefits tax 34 3,565 3,528 5,030
Company tax 9,676 100,919 95,905 135,500
Superannuation fund taxes 1,841 21,121 18,605 21,930
Petroleum resource rent tax 36 1,186 1,089 1,400
Total income taxation revenue 46,619 372,460 362,146 508,160

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.

Note 2: Indirect Tax

ACTUAL
2024-2025
March
$m
ACTUAL
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO Profile
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$m
Goods and services tax 4,876 70,578 69,316 94,770
Wine equalisation tax 69 849 845 1,130
Luxury car tax 85 833 846 1,170
Excise duty 3,023 23,615 23,677 30,970
Customs duty 563 8,864 9,808 12,980
Other indirect tax 1,000 10,627 10,444 14,429
Total indirect taxation revenue 9,617 115,366 114,937 155,449

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.

Note 3: Total expenses by function

ACTUAL
2024-2025
March
$m
ACTUAL
2024-2025
YTD March
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2024-2025
FULL YEAR
$m
Expenses by function
General public services 2,841 23,082 33,297
Defence 4,309 34,356 48,270
Public order and safety 668 6,241 8,776
Education 2,940 42,565 63,805
Health 9,623 85,392 116,887
Social security and welfare 23,003 204,293 274,667
Housing and community amenities 591 4,919 16,208
Recreation and culture 427 3,873 5,676
Fuel and energy 1,339 10,574 16,321
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 337 2,494 4,568
Mining, manufacturing and construction 431 3,737 5,544
Transport and communication 2,280 8,136 15,974
Other economic affairs 1,059 9,311 14,039
Other purposes
Public debt interest 2,090 17,833 24,380
Nominal superannuation interest 1,180 10,623 14,241
General purpose inter-government transactions 7,764 74,107 97,760
Natural disaster relief 282 509 810
Contingency reserve 0 0 -2,575
Total expenses 61,164 542,046 758,648

*As published in the 2024-25 MYEFO.

NOTES:

AASB 1049 Whole of Government and General Government Sector Financial Reporting (AASB 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 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 https://www.aofm.gov.au/data-hub.

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:
https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/australian-government-general-government-sector-monthly-financial-statements-tables-and-data


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