1. Government at a Glance 2013
Country Fact Sheet
Strategic Governance
Women in Government
Public Finance & Economics
Public Procurement
Budget Practices & Procedures
Open and Inclusive Government
Public Employment & Pay
Serving Citizens
Did you know?
Average of OECD countries
in green
Country value in blue
(not represented if not available)
Range of OECD country
values in grey
www.oecd.org/gov/govataglance.htm
How to read the figures: OECD
Values have
been rounded
Trust in government
Fiscal sustainability
Public sector efficiency
Impact of the tax system and grants on
reducing income inequality% of citizens who have confidence in their national government (2007 & 2012)
Education: performance in PISA reading scores and expenditure
per student (aged 6 to 15) in USD PPP (2009)
Source: Gallup World Poll
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2012
Source: OECD Income Distribution Database
Source: OECD Economic Outlook No. 93 (May 2013)
Total consolidation requirements between 2012 and 2030 in
order to reduce government debt to 60% of GDP
Differences in income inequality before and after tax and
government transfers (2010)
Strategic Governance
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
Gini Coefficient Gini Coefficient
Higher
inequality
Higher
inequality
Lower
inequality
Lower
inequality
Before After Before After
OECD
0.47
0.31
taxes and transfers
0.33
0.47
taxes and transfers
Australia
0
5
10
15
% of potential GDP
3.0%
OECD
3.1%
Australia
Expenditure per student aged 6 to 15 (USD PPP)
PISA Reading Score
0 50 000 100 000 150 000 200 000
400
450
500
550
Higher
score
Lower
score
OECD
PISA
Reading
Expenditure
495 USD 83 500
515 USD 89 100
Australia
Australia
In Australia, health expenditure accounts for
19.2% of total government expenditure, one
of the largest shares across the OECD.
In Australia, total annual compensation of
central government senior managers (D1)
is almost 5 times higher than the average
tertiary educated person’s, one of the largest
gaps between the two groups across the OECD.
80% of Australia’s government revenues
are collected through taxes (other than social
contributions), one of the highest shares
across the OECD.
Percentage point
change 2007-20120 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
%
45
40
2007
2012
-5
OECD
-11
2007
2012 42
53
Australia
Australia

2. Public Finance and Economics
Structure of government expenditures (2011)
% of total government expenditure
Government revenues
(2011)
Government expenditures
(2011)
Fiscal balance
(2011)
Government debt
(2011)
% of GDP % of GDP % of GDP % of GDP
Source: OECD National Accounts Source: OECD National Accounts Source: OECD National Accounts Source: OECD National Accounts
Source: OECD National Accounts
Budget Practices and Procedures
Fiscal rules:Types and legal foundation (2012) Use of performance budgeting practices
at the central level of government (2011)
Index
Source: OECD 2012 Survey on Budget Practices and Procedures Source: OECD 2011 Survey on Performance Budgeting
20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
OECD
41.9%
32.2%
Australia
20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
OECD
45.4%
36.3%
Australia
OECD
-15% -10% 0%-5% +5% +10% +15%
-3.5%
-4.1%
Australia
0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250%
OECD
79% 100%
0%
45%
Australia
100%
0%
Social
protection
HealthEducation
General
public services
Economic
affairs
Public order
and safety
Defence Other
35.6%
5.9%
3.9%
3.6%
14.5%12.5%
13.6%
10.5%
OECD
6.4%
Other
4.1%
Defence
4.8%
Public order
and safety
11.4%
Economic
affairs
12.5%
General
public services
14.5%
Education
19.2%
Health
27.1%
Social
protection
Australia
In how many countries
do these types of rules exist?
If yes, what is the
legal foundation?
Do these types
of rules exist?
Expenditure
rule(s)
Revenue
rule(s)
Budget balance
rule(s)
Debt
rule(s)
Legal foundations:
Constitution
International
Treaty
Primary and/or
Secondary Legislation
Internal
Rules/Policy
Political
Commitment
C IT L R PC
21
5
28
23
OECD
YES L
YES PC
YES PC
YES PC
Australia
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.38
OECD
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
0.40
Australia
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7

3. Public Employment and Pay
Employment in general government (2011)
% of labour force
Annual compensation across central government positions (2011)
Source: OECD 2012 Survey on Compensation of Employees in Centrtall/Federal Governments
Source: International Labour Organisation Database & OECD Labour Force Statistics
2011 USD PPP
Women in Government
Share of women in general government (2010) Share of ministers who are women (2012)
Source: International Labour Organisation Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union Parline Database
% of general government employment % of ministers
Public Procurement
Procurement expenditure (2011) Use of innovative procurement tools in central government (2012)
% of government expenditures functionalities in e-procurement systems
Source: OECD National Accounts Source: OECD 2012 Survey on Public Procurement
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
OECD
29.0%36.3%
Australia
Procurement plans
are published
Yes, in national central e-procurement systems Yes,in e-procurement systems of specific procuring entities No
Tenders
are announced
Bids can be
submitted
electronically
Invoices can be
submitted
electronically
20
8
10
32
7
0
16
13
6
8
10
15OECD
Australia
56.8%
OECD
50%
0%
100%
Note: Data for Australia are not available.
Australia
24.9%
OECD
50%
0%
100%
20.7%
Australia
50%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
15.5%
OECD
15.7%
Australia
Note: Data for Australia refer to the public sector (general government and public corporations).
232 000126 00089 00050 000
OECDOECDOECDOECD
Middle managers
(D3 positions)
Senior managers
(D1 positions)
Senior professionalsSecretaries
(general office clerks)
2011 USD PPP
0
100 000
200 000
300 000
400 000
382 000170 000not available64 000
AustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAustralia

4. Open and Inclusive Government
Asset disclosure: Level of disclosure of private interests
and public availability of information (2012)
Source: OECD 2012 Survey on Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Serving Citizens: quality of public services
out of pocket expenditure as a % of final household consumption
Access to medical care (2011) Citizen take-up of e-government services (2012)
% of individuals using the internet to interact with public authorities
Satisfaction and confidence across public services (2012)
% of citizens expressing confidence/satisfaction
Source: OECD Health Statistics 2013 Source: Eurostat and OECD
Source: World Gallup Poll
Government at a Glance 2013
With a focus on public administration, OECD Government at a Glance 2013 provides readers with a dashboard of key indicators assembled with the
goal of contributing to the analysis and international comparison of public sector performance across OECD countries. Indicators on public finances
and employment are provided alongside composite indexes summarising aspects of public management policies, and indicators on service quality
in education, health, taxation and justice. Government at a Glance 2013 also includes indicators on key governance and public management
issues, such as strategice governance, budgeting, compensation in the public service, public procurement and open government.
www.oecd.org/gov/govataglance.htm
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/gov_glance-2013-en
For background data and to consult this publication on line:
For more information and to consult all other Country Fact Sheets:
v1.13/11/13
50%
OECD
100%
0%
25%
50%
75%
38%
Note: Data for Australia are for 2010.
Australia
40%
66%71%
51% 72%
National government
Judicial system Local police
Health care Education system
OECD range
OECD
42%
66%81%
58% 80%20
40
60
80
100
Australia
2.9%
OECD0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5%
3.2%
Note: Data for Australia are for 2010.
Australia
100
75
50
25
0
51
OECD
55
Australia
Low level Middle level High level
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100