Government expenditure on public health activities

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Spending by all governments Australian Government spending State and territory government spending Growth in expenditure on public health activities

Spending by all governments

A breakdown of the total estimated expenditure on public health activities by Australian and state/territory governments shows that $2.0 billion (36.7% of total expenditure) was spent by the state and territory governments in 2023–24. The balance of $3.4 billion related to programs and activities for which the Australian Government was directly responsible (Figure 5). Overall government expenditure in 2023–24 was highest for:

  • Organised immunisation – $2.4 billion (44.0% of total expenditure on public health activities)
  • Communicable disease control – $0.9 billion (16.9%)
  • Selected health promotion – $0.7 billion (12.1%)
  • Screening programs – $0.6 billion (10.3%) (Figure 7, Table 8).

Figure 7: Government spending on public health activities, constant prices(a), 2013–14 to 2023–24

The figure chart presents the distribution of total government expenditure on public health activities, with overall spending in 2023–24 amounting to $5.4 billion. The chart is divided into nine categories, each representing a distinct area of public health.

The largest share of funding was allocated to Organised Immunisation, which received approximately $2.4 billion. This was followed by Communicable Disease Control at $0.9 billion, and Selected Health Promotion at $0.7 billion, making it the third-largest category. Collectively, these three areas accounted for nearly three-quarters of the total expenditure.

Other notable categories included Screening programs ($0.6 billion) and Prevention of hazardous and harmful drugs ($0.4 billion). In contrast, the remaining categories—Environmental health, Public health research, Public health n.f.d, and Food standards and hygiene (1.0%)—represented relatively small portions of the overall budget.

The figure chart presents the distribution of total government expenditure on public health activities, with overall spending in 2023–24 amounting to $5.4 billion. The chart is divided into nine categories, each representing a distinct area of public health.The largest share of funding was allocated to Organised Immunisation, which received approximately $2.4 billion. This was followed by Communicable Disease Control at $0.9 billion, and Selected Health Promotion at $0.7 billion, making it the third-largest category. Collectively, these three areas accounted for nearly three-quarters of the total expenditure.Other notable categories included Screening programs ($0.6 billion) and Prevention of hazardous and harmful drugs ($0.4 billion). In contrast, the remaining categories—Environmental health, Public health research, Public health n.f.d, and Food standards and hygiene (1.0%)—represented relatively small portions of the overall budget.

(a) Constant price health spending is in 2023–24 prices.

Source: AIHW Health Expenditure Database (Table 8).

Australian Government spending

During 2023–24, more than a half (52.6%) of Australian Government public health spending was for Organised immunisation ($1.8 billion) (Figure 8, Table 9). Spending on Communicable disease control was the next largest public health activity of Australian Government spending ($0.4 billion, 10.5%), followed by Screening programs ($0.3 billion, 7.7%). In particular, the Australian Government spent $0.5 billion (15.2%) on ‘broad band’ Public health services under NHR funding which was unable to be allocated to specific public health activities.

Figure 8: Australian Government spending on public health activities, constant prices(a), 2013–14 to 2023–24 

The pie chart illustrates Australian government spending on ten public health activities in 2023–24, totalling approximately $3.4 billion. These activities include areas such as communicable disease control, organised immunisation, screening programs, and public health services.

In that year, Organised Immunisation received the largest share of funding, amounting to around $1.8 billion. The second-largest allocation went to Public health services, which received $0.5 billion, followed by Communicable disease control at approximately $0.4 billion. Screening programs accounted for about $266 million, while Prevention of hazardous and harmful drugs received $179 million. Spending on selected health promotion was slightly lower, at $169 million.

At the lower end of the expenditure scale, Public health research received $84 million. Very small allocations were recorded for Public health n.f.d. ($23 million), Food standards and hygiene ($19.8 million), and Environmental Health ($3.8 million).

The pie chart illustrates Australian government spending on ten public health activities in 2023–24, totalling approximately $3.4 billion. These activities include areas such as communicable disease control, organised immunisation, screening programs, and public health services.In that year, Organised Immunisation received the largest share of funding, amounting to around $1.8 billion. The second-largest allocation went to Public health services, which received $0.5 billion, followed by Communicable disease control at approximately $0.4 billion. Screening programs accounted for about $266 million, while Prevention of hazardous and harmful drugs received $179 million. Spending on selected health promotion was slightly lower, at $169 million.At the lower end of the expenditure scale, Public health research received $84 million. Very small allocations were recorded for Public health n.f.d. ($23 million), Food standards and hygiene ($19.8 million), and Environmental Health ($3.8 million).

 

(a) Constant price health spending is in 2023–24 prices.

Note: Public health services’ category is the Australian Government funding to the states and territories through National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA).

Source: AIHW Health Expenditure Database (Table 9).

State and territory government spending

In 2023–24, state and territory governments spent $2.7 billion on public health activities. Please note this expenditure included Australian Government grants provided to states and territories. Overall state and territory government expenditure in 2023–24 was highest for:

  • Communicable disease control – $0.6 billion (23.3% of total expenditure on public health activities)
  • Organised immunisation – $0.6 billion (22.6%)
  • Selected health promotion – $0.5 billion (18.9%)
  • Screening programs – $0.3 billion (12.0%)
  • Prevention of hazardous and harmful drug use – $0.3 billion (9.9%) (Figure 9, Table 10).

The expenditure distribution across public health activities for each state and territory is presented in Tables 11 to 18 in the excel data tables.

Figure 9: State and territory government spending on public health activities, constant prices(a), 2013–14 to 2023–24

The pie chart presents the distribution of state and territory expenditure across 9 public health activities, amounting to a total of $2.7 billion in 2023–24.

The largest share of funding was allocated to Communicable disease control, receiving $620 million, followed closely by Organised immunisation, which also accounted for $603 million. Selected health promotion ranked third, with an allocation of $504 million. Collectively, these top three areas—Communicable disease control, Organised immunisation, and Selected health promotion—represented nearly two-thirds of the total expenditure.

Mid-range allocations included Screening programs at $320 million and Prevention of hazardous and harmful drug use at $265 million. Environmental health received $159 million, while Public health n.f.d. (not further defined) attracted $100 million.

At the lower end of the spending spectrum, Food standards and hygiene received $61 million, and the smallest allocation was directed to Public health research, which accounted for $32 million.

The pie chart presents the distribution of state and territory expenditure across 9 public health activities, amounting to a total of $2.7 billion in 2023–24.The largest share of funding was allocated to Communicable disease control, receiving $620 million, followed closely by Organised immunisation, which also accounted for $603 million. Selected health promotion ranked third, with an allocation of $504 million. Collectively, these top three areas—Communicable disease control, Organised immunisation, and Selected health promotion—represented nearly two-thirds of the total expenditure.Mid-range allocations included Screening programs at $320 million and Prevention of hazardous and harmful drug use at $265 million. Environmental health received $159 million, while Public health n.f.d. (not further defined) attracted $100 million.At the lower end of the spending spectrum, Food standards and hygiene received $61 million, and the smallest allocation was directed to Public health research, which accounted for $32 million.

(a) Constant price health spending is in 2023–24 prices.

Notes: 

  1. State and territory government expenditure is gross expenditure sourced from the Government Health Expenditure National Minimum Dataset (GHE NMDS) data that was supplied by states and territories to the AIHW for the annual Health expenditure Australia report.
  2. These gross expenditures include the Commonwealth Government grants provided to these public health activities. 

Source: AIHW Health Expenditure Database (Table 10).

Growth in expenditure on public health activities

In 2023–24, government spending across public health activities decreased on average by 29.5% in real terms, which was lower than the average annual growth rate for the decade from 2013–14 (5.8%) (Figure 10, Table 8). From 2022–23 to 2023–24, government spending on many public health activities decreased, ranging from −2.2% for Environmental health to −53.8% for Communicable disease control. However, some activities such as Screening programs, Prevention of hazardous and harmful drugs continued to increase at 13.5% and 19.2%, respectively.

Over the decade to 2023–24, most of public health activities experienced real increases in expenditure, with the average annual growth rates ranging from 2.1% to 13.7% (Figure 10, Table 7). However, spending on Selected health promotion and Food standards and hygiene decreased slightly over the same period.

Before 2019–20, spending on all public health activities had grown with the modest average annual growth rate of 2.5% in real terms. During the COVID pandemic period (2019–20 to 2021-22), spending in several public health activities reached high growth rates, with the highest average growth rates being recorded for Communicable disease control in 2019–20 (157.0%) and 2020–21 (279.4%), and Organisation immunisation in 2020–21(114.4%) and 2021–22 (220.7%) in real terms.

Figure 10: Growth in government spending on public health activities, constant prices(a), 2013–14 to 2023–24

The line chart shows growth in government expenditure on various public health activities in Australia between 2013–14 and 2023–24. From 2013–14 to 2018–19, all categories recorded minimal fluctuations, with spending levels generally low, averaging around $350 million. From 2019–20 onward, expenditure began to rise, particularly for Communicable disease control, which peaked at $7.2 billion in 2021–22, making it the dominant category. Organised immunisation also saw a substantial increase during the same period, reaching the second-highest peak of $6.4 billion.

Other categories, such as screening programs and selected health promotion, grew noticeably, though their peaks remained below $1.5 billion. In contrast, areas like environmental health, food standards and hygiene, and public health research showed only slight increases and remained comparatively low throughout the period.

The line chart shows growth in government expenditure on various public health activities in Australia between 2013–14 and 2023–24. From 2013–14 to 2018–19, all categories recorded minimal fluctuations, with spending levels generally low, averaging around $350 million. From 2019–20 onward, expenditure began to rise, particularly for Communicable disease control, which peaked at $7.2 billion in 2021–22, making it the dominant category. Organised immunisation also saw a substantial increase during the same period, reaching the second-highest peak of $6.4 billion.Other categories, such as screening programs and selected health promotion, grew noticeably, though their peaks remained below $1.5 billion. In contrast, areas like environmental health, food standards and hygiene, and public health research showed only slight increases and remained comparatively low throughout the period.

(a) Constant price health spending is in 2023–24 prices.

(b) ‘Public health services’ category is the Australian Government funding to the states and territories through National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA).

Source: AIHW Health Expenditure Database (Tables 8, 9).

Prior to 2018–19, government spending on Communicable disease activity remained relatively stable, averaging approximately $0.5 billion annually in constant prices. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2019–20 to 2021–22), expenditure on this activity surged significantly, increasing by about $6.0 billion, representing an approximate 6-fold rise. Notably, the Australian Government expenditure accounted for 75.5% of this total increase in Communicable disease control spending.

Similarly, expenditure on Organised immunisation activity exhibited modest growth prior to 2018–19, with an average annual growth rate of 5.9%. Beginning in 2020–21, however, spending on this activity experienced a marked escalation, increasing by a three-fold, equivalent to about $4.4 billion over the period 2020–21 to 2021–22. The Australian Government contributed 83.5% of this increase in Organised immunisation expenditure.

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