Government downplays deficits in budget despite external issues

By Grace Ormsby

March 02 2020
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It remains too early to assess the impact of drought, bushfires and the coronavirus on Australia’s budget outlook, according to the federal Minister for Finance, as higher than previously predicted deficits seen in the most recent balance sheet also raise questions.

Government downplays deficits in budget despite external issues

In a statement from Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann in his capacity as Minister for Finance, the MP has emphasised how January’s monthly financial statements are “not indicative of a trend in the overall budget position or expected final budget outcome”.

“As we consistently caution, monthly results are inevitably volatile due to timing differences between when receipts are received and when payments are made,” he said.

As at 31 January 2020, Australia’s balance sheet shows a federal net worth of minus $56.976 billion (negative $569,758 million).

Net debt is $43 billion ($430,211 million), while net financial liabilities are $79.9 billion ($799,498 million).

According to the report, the fiscal balance for the year to 31 January 2020 was a deficit of $21,953 million, which is $1,604 million higher than the 2019–20 MYEFO profile deficit of $20,349 million.

It was explained in the fiscal outcomes that the difference resulted from lower than expected revenue, lower expenses and higher net capital investment.

December and January have consistently been two of the most volatile months with the highest deviation from the indicative profile, according to the minister.

Senator Cormann also outlined how, historically, payments exceed receipts until the latter half of the financial year, which generally results in the monthly profiles for the first half of the financial year being lower than the final budget outcome.

“Great care therefore needs to be taken when comparing monthly or cumulative data across years and to full-year estimates,” he iterated.

The budget outcome for the 2019–20 financial year was initially estimated to be a surplus of $5 billion.

In closing, the senator said that the government is “of course very conscious” of the negative impact that the coronavirus will have on the Australian economy, especially following on from the drought and bushfires.

Consequently, he indicated it as likely to also have an impact on the budget.

“However, it remains too early to assess precisely what that impact will be,” he said.

“We will reconcile all of the relevant data and revised forecasts and projections in the 2020–21 budget to be delivered on the second Tuesday in May.”

The comments from the Minister for Finance come after the treasurer recently doubled down on the budget forecast, noting the Australian economy as “remarkably resilient”.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

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