Spending on welfare services in Australia in 1999-00 was $13.7
billion-about 2.2% of Gross Domestic Product-and up 4.3% in real
terms compared with 1998-99 figures, according to a report released
today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Welfare Services Expenditure Bulletin Number 6 shows
that of the $13.7 billion, 63% was spent by the government sector,
23% came from clients, and 14% was contributed by non-government
community services organisations.
The government sector's expenditure was $8.6 billion, up 3.2% in
real terms on the previous year. Approximately 54% was funded by
State and Territory Governments, 45% by the Commonwealth
Government, and the remaining 1% by local governments.
While governments were the major funders of services,
non-government community services organisations were the major
providers of services-providing 57% of the total value of
services.
Of the 43% of services provided by governments, State and
Territory governments delivered 33% of services, local governments
5%, and the Commonwealth 4%.
Total public sector funding of welfare services was on average
$450 per person. The non-government sector contributed $267 per
person.
Report author Maneerat Pinyopusarerk said that welfare services
expenditure figures do not include high-level residential aged care
or home-based nursing care (which are classified as health
services), nor long-term housing assistance.
'And it is also important to realise that we are reporting only
on services where money changes hands.
'As we know, a great many welfare services are provided by
volunteers working in non-government community services
organisations, and by carers in households. We estimated the value
of the unpaid contribution of the household sector at $25 billion
in 1997-98.'
The AIHW warned that there had been some unexplained shifts in
expenditure figures reported by the States and Territories since
government finance statistics moved from a cash accounting system
to an accrual system in 1998-99.
'We need to do further checks on the extent of those shifts in
1998-99 and 1999-00', Ms Pinyopusarerk said.
'We are working with the States and Territories to refine
collection and compilation processes under the accrual system so
that we can be sure that our data remain of the highest
quality.'
9 August 2001
Further information: Ms Maneerat Pinyopusarerk,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1161
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.