Estimates of the structural budget balance of the Australian Government 2001–02 to 2016–17


Report no. 01/2013


The structural budget balance is a partial measure of the sustainability of the budget.  It shows the underlying position of the budget after adjusting the actual budget balance for the impacts of major cyclical and temporary factors.  The structural budget balance reflects the impacts of underlying budgetary trends and discretionary fiscal policy decisions.  This report presents estimates of the structural budget balance over the period 2001–02 to 2016–17.  Because of the uncertainties surrounding the estimates of certain key variables in the calculation of the structural budget balance, in particular the structural level of the terms of trade, the PBO’s estimates are presented within a plausible band rather than as point estimates.

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Date issued: 22 May 2013