In this guide to Australia’s National Debt, we discuss the amount of the debt, who manages it, the country’s debt ceiling, how it raises loans, and who holds the debt.
The National Debt of Australia
Australia’s national debt is counted as the debts of the government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The debts of Australia’s states are not included. The account of debts is limited to loans and financial instruments undertaken by the government.
Not all obligations are included in the national debt. The table below clarifies what is and isn’t included.
| Australian Government Obligation | Government Department | Included in National Debt? |
|---|---|---|
| Government-issued bonds | Department of the Treasury | Yes |
| Short-term debt instruments | Department of the Treasury | Yes |
| State government debt | None | No |
| Civil Service pension obligations | All | No |
| National Pension obligations | Department for Work and Pensions | No |
| National bank guarantee scheme | Department of the Treasury | No |
| Accounts Payable (unpaid bills) | All | No |
Who Manages Australia’s National Debt?
The Department of the Treasury in Canberra is responsible for raising money for the government and managing its debt. The minister who heads the department is entitled Treasurer of Australia. The division of the Treasury that is specifically tasked with debt management is called the Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM).
Governing Body
The activities of the AOFM are governed by the Loan Council. This controlling body includes the Prime Minister, the Premier of each state, and the Chief Minister of each Territory.
National Debts vs State Debts
The central parliament of Australia does not have the final say on the amount of debt that the government runs up. The states also have an interest in debt and can outvote the national government on its debt strategy.
What Australia’s Debt Ceiling?
One of the main mechanisms of control that the Commonwealth parliament has had over the Australian national debt was the debt ceiling. This was created by legislation in 1911, but not implemented until 2007.
Process to Raise the Debt Ceiling
Although the Treasurer of Australia was formally obliged to ask the parliament’s permission to raise the ceiling, a government cannot be formed in Australia without a majority in parliament.
Therefore, the party that the Treasurer belongs to always has enough votes to carry his wishes through. Thus, the debt ceiling mechanism was never more than a rubber stamp and was abolished with little effort in 2013.
How Does the Australian Government Raise Loans?
The AOFM raises loans through bonds and Treasury bills. All the types of financial instruments deployed by the government to raise money are collectively referred to as “Australian government securities,” or “AGSs.”
Types of Debt Instruments
The types of debt instruments that the AOFM issues fall into the following categories:
- Treasury bonds
- Treasury notes
- Other securities
Treasury Instruments
The difference between Treasury bonds and Treasury notes is that bonds are issued for a period of one year or more and Treasury notes are issued from periods between one month and one year minus one day.
Treasury Notes vs Treasury Bills
In other countries, Treasury notes are called “Treasury bills” or “T-bills.” Australian Treasury notes nearly always have a maturity period of six months or less. They do not earn interest, however, they are sold at a discount and the government redeems them at face value.
Bond Types
The AOFM issues two types of bonds:
- Face value bonds
- Index-linked bonds
Treasury indexed bonds increase each year by the inflation rate indicated by the Consumer Price Index.
Investors receive the same interest rate throughout the life of the index-linked bond. However, they will receive more money as time progresses because that interest is applied to a higher capital value.
Repayment of Bonds
The repayment on maturity is of the increased amount adjusted annually by the CPI and not the face value of the original issue. Standard bonds pay out every six months and index-linked bonds pay out quarterly.
Division of Debt by Instrument Type
The division of debt by instrument type is shown in the table below:
| Instrument Type | Face value (AUD mn) | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Treasury Bonds | 494,185 | 92.82 |
| Treasury Indexed Bonds | 35,202 | 6.61 |
| Treasury Notes | 3,000 | 0.56 |
| Other Securities | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 532,393 | 100 |
Who Holds Australia’s Debt?
Australia’s debt to GDP ratio is assessed by the IMF at 41.6%. This is very low and, combined with other factors, makes Australian government debt an attractive investment for the international financial community.
As a result, foreign ownership of Australian government bonds has always been very high.
Default Status
The government of Australia has never defaulted on its debt and its bonds are AAA rated by all of the major credit rating agencies. These factors make Australian debt instruments very safe investments.
More Facts About Australia’s Debt
- You could wrap $1 bills around the Earth 2,016 times with the debt amount.
- If you lay $1 bills on top of each other they would make a pile 56,567 km, or 35,149 miles high.
- That's equivalent to 0.15 trips to the Moon.
Where Can I Trade Commodities?
Start your research with reviews of these regulated brokers available in .
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74%-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Also see our guides specific to brokers available in Australia and CFD trading for Australians.
Further Reading
- Australia’s Biggest Import and Exports
- Commodity Trading Guide for Australians
- Real-Time World Debt Clock
- Learn to Trade Commodities
- Stock Broker Reviews
- Learn to Trade CFDs and Find a Broker
