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Financial performance

CGC remains in a sound financial position and budgets to remain financially sustainable over the forward estimates. A number of funded initiatives were delayed during the year as the CGC sought to minimise risks associated with major organisational change during an adverse operating environment, particularly the bush fires, COVID-19 and finalisation of the 2020 Review Report (see Performance Statements). These delays resulted in a significant underspend in 2019–20.

Figure 2 CGC's operating results, 2015–16 to 2019–20

In 2019–20, the Department of Finance adjusted the net cash operating loss rule in response to AASB 16. Accordingly, for financial years 2019–20 onwards, CGC monitors financial performance by excluding the impact of depreciation and principal lease payments. For financial years 2018–19 and earlier, CGC continues to measure financial performance by excluding the impact of depreciation only. In 2019–20, after adjusting for depreciation and principal lease payments, the CGC had an operating surplus of $2.59 million (Figure 2).

Table 1 Summary of financial performance, 2019–20

2019–20

2018–19

Movement

($’000)

($’000)

($’000)

Total own-source revenue

75

98

(23)

Total revenue from government

8,227

6,067

2,160

Total expenses

5,902

6,147

(245)

Net surplus/(deficit)

2,400

18

2,382

Total assets

9,431

5,831

3,600

Total liabilities

2,444

2,110

334

Equity

6,987

3,721

3,266

Including depreciation and principal lease payments, the CGC’s operating surplus was $2.40 million.

The CGC’s assets and liabilities are primarily of a financial nature, with the largest balance being appropriation receivable ($8.29 million). Employee provisions ($1.41 million) comprise the majority of CGC’s liabilities.

Resourcing statement

Table 2 summarises the CGC’s total resources and total payments in 2019–20, and Table 3 shows total expenses for Outcome 1 in 2019–20.

Table 2 CGC resource statement, 2019–20

Actual available

Payments made

Balance

($'000)

($'000)

($'000)

Ordinary annual services(a)

Departmental appropriation(b)

14,523

6,136

8,387

Total ordinary annual services

14,523

6,136

8,387

Total resourcing and payments

14,523

6,136

8,387

(a) Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2019–2020. This also includes prior-year departmental appropriation and retained revenue receipts under section 74 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

(b) Includes an amount of $825,000 in 2019–20 for the departmental capital budget. For accounting purposes, this amount has been designated as ’contributions by owners’.

Table 3 Total expenses for Outcome 1, 2019–20

Budget(a)

Actual

Variation

($’000)

($’000)

($’000)

Outcome 1: Informed government decisions on fiscal equalisation between the states and territories through advice and recommendations on the distribution of GST revenue

Program 1.1: The commission makes recommendations on the distribution of the GST pool, which are considered by government

Departmental expenses

Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Act No. 1)

8,227

5,857

2,370

Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year

45

45

Total for Program 1.1

8,272

5,902

2,370

Total expenses for Outcome 1

8,272

5,902

2,370

Average staffing level (number)

34.0

23.8

10.2

(a) Full-year budget, including any subsequent adjustment made to the 2019–20 Budget at Additional Estimates.