Government sources: State and territory government spending

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State and territory government spending Spending relative to government expenses Area of spending

State and territory government spending

In 2023–24, state and territory governments spent $82.0 billion on health. In real terms, this was a 1.1% growth in spending from 2022–23 – an additional $0.9 billion (Table 10). This real growth rate was lower than the average growth rate over the period from 2013–14 to 2023–24 (4.4% per annum). 

Spending relative to government expenses

In 2023–24, the ratio of state and territory government health spending to their total state and territory government expenses was 18.8%, around 0.1 percentage point lower than in 2022–23 (Figure 14) (Table 16).

Figure 14: Ratio of state and territory government health spending to state and territory government expenses, current prices, 2013–14 to 2023–24

The line graph shows the dollar amounts of state and territory government expenses and health spending, along with an additional line representing the ratio of health spending to total government expenses as a percentage. State and territory government health spending increased from $40.9 billion in 2013–14 to $82 billion in 2023–24. Government expenses rose from $243.5 billion in 2013–14 to $435.1  billion in 2023–24. The ratio of health spending to government expenses increased over the 10-year period, rising from 16.8% to 18.8%.

The line graph shows the dollar amounts of state and territory government expenses and health spending, along with an additional line representing the ratio of health spending to total government expenses as a percentage. State and territory government health spending increased from $40.9 billion in 2013–14 to $82 billion in 2023–24. Government expenses rose from $243.5 billion in 2013–14 to $435.1  billion in 2023–24. The ratio of health spending to government expenses increased over the 10-year period, rising from 16.8% to 18.8%.

Notes:

  1. State and territory government expenses comprise these government expenses from state and local governments.
  2. The ratio increased in 2016–17 due to a large one-off capital spending project in South Australia.
  3. For more information about concepts, definitions and data sources, see Overview of data sources and methodology of Health Expenditure Australia 2023–24 report.

Sources: AIHW Health Expenditure Database; Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2025b) (Table 11).

In 2023–24, the ratio of health spending to government expenses differed across states and territories, with the highest in the Australian Capital Territory (28.8%) and the lowest in New South Wales (16.1%) (Figure 15). The ratio decreased slightly for Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia while it increased for the others.

Figure 15: Ratio of total health spending to government expenses for each state and territory government, current prices, 2013–14 to 2023–24

The line graph shows that ratio of health spending to government expenses for all states and territories from 2013–14 to 2023–24. Over the 10-year period, the list of average ratios from highest to lowest is Australian Capital Territory (28.8 per cent), Tasmania (27 per cent), South Australia (23.5 per cent), Western Australia (20.1 per cent), the Queensland (19.0 per cent), Victoria (18.7 per cent), the Northern Territory (17.9 per cent) and New South Wales (16.1 per cent). The ratio increased significantly in 2016–17 for South Australia due to a large one-off capital spending project. 

The line graph shows that ratio of health spending to government expenses for all states and territories from 2013–14 to 2023–24. Over the 10-year period, the list of average ratios from highest to lowest is Australian Capital Territory (28.8 per cent), Tasmania (27 per cent), South Australia (23.5 per cent), Western Australia (20.1 per cent), the Queensland (19.0 per cent), Victoria (18.7 per cent), the Northern Territory (17.9 per cent) and New South Wales (16.1 per cent). The ratio increased significantly in 2016–17 for South Australia due to a large one-off capital spending project. 

Notes:

  1. Government expenses include these government expenses from state and local governments.
  2. The ratio increased in 2016–17 due to a large one-off capital project in South Australia.

Sources: AIHW Health Expenditure Database; Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2025c) (Table 17).

Area of spending

In 2023–24, state and territory governments spent $53.1 billion (64.8%) on hospitals, with the most ($52.7 billion) on public hospitals. Another $13.6 billion (16.6%) was spent on primary health care; of which community health services and public health were $10.7 billion and $1.8 billion respectively (Figure 16; Table A6).

In 2023–24, state and territory spending increased in real terms in these main areas:

  • public hospital services by $0.9 billion (1.8% increase compared with 2022–23)
  • other services (patient transport services, aids and appliances, administration) by $0.3 billion (4.2%)

Spending on public health decreased by $0.8 billion (29.9%).

Figure 16: State and territory government total health spending, by area of spending, constant prices (a), 2013–14 to 2023–24

The line graph shows that state and territory government health spending increased from 2013–14 to 2023–24 in all areas of spending. For the overall 10-year period, the largest increase was for public hospitals ($33.0 billion in 2013–14 to $52.7 billion in 2023–24), followed by primary health care ($10.1 billion in 2013–14 to $13.6 billion in 2023–24). State and territory government health spending was relatively flatter for private hospitals, other services and research. Capital spending by state and territory government increased in 2016–17 due to a large one-off capital spending project in South Australia. 

The line graph shows that state and territory government health spending increased from 2013–14 to 2023–24 in all areas of spending. For the overall 10-year period, the largest increase was for public hospitals ($33.0 billion in 2013–14 to $52.7 billion in 2023–24), followed by primary health care ($10.1 billion in 2013–14 to $13.6 billion in 2023–24). State and territory government health spending was relatively flatter for private hospitals, other services and research. Capital spending by state and territory government increased in 2016–17 due to a large one-off capital spending project in South Australia. 

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

Notes:

  1. There was no state and territory government spending on referred medical services.
  2. Primary health care excludes unreferred medical services, benefit-paid pharmaceuticals and all other medications.
  3. Other services exclude aids and appliances.
  4. State and territory government capital spending increased in 2016–17 due to a one-off capital spending in South Australia.

Source: AIHW Health Expenditure Database (Table 18).

These estimates of public hospital spending differ from those reported in the NHFB statistics for a range of reasons, including where funding is provided to support public hospital service delivery outside the NHFP. More details can be found in Comparison and alignment of Australian health expenditure estimates.

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