Spending on welfare services in Australia in 2000-01 was $13.7
billion, or 2.0% of Gross Domestic Product. This averaged $710 per
person, according to Welfare Expenditure Australia
2000-01, a report by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare.
Real growth in expenditure between 1998-99 and 2000-01 averaged
5.9% per year.
The spending analysed in the latest AIHW report was on services
provided mostly to older people, people with disabilities, and
families and children. It does not include an estimated $48 billion
in social security payments, such as age pensions, disability
support pensions and Newstart allowances.
$9.6 billion or about 70% of the funding for welfare services
was provided by the government sector, with the remaining $4.1
billion being contributed by non-government funding sources.
For the Commonwealth Government, which spent $4.3 billion in
2000-01 (an average of $222 per person), the greatest areas of
spending were on services for older people (38%), and family and
child welfare services (33%).
Report co-author Tony Hynes said that spending by State and
Territory governments varied considerably.
'Nationally, State and Territory governments funding in 2000-01
averaged $258 per person. Three States-Victoria, New South Wales
and Western Australia-had per capita spending rates that were more
than 10% above the national average and South Australia, the
Northern Territory and Queensland were all well below that
average.
'This report also highlights the vital role that non-government
community services organisations continue to play in providing
welfare services in Australia,' Mr Hynes said.
'In 2000-01 over half the funding-$6.9 billion-was for services
provided by those organisations.'
Another form of expenditure examined for the first time was
concessions on council rates, electricity, water, sewerage and
public transport. These were valued at $821 million in 2000-01,
with about 70% ($651 million) going to older Australians and people
with disabilities.
The report also estimated that welfare-related tax expenditures
directed at welfare service provider organisations cost governments
about $836 million in 2000-01.
14 February 2003
Further information: Mr Tony Hynes, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1160
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.