More than $5.4 billion was spent by the public sector in Australia on cultural activities in 2005-06, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Governments in Australia gave the largest proportion of their total cultural funding to broadcasting and film ($1.2 billion) in 2005-06, followed by nature parks and reserves ($1.1 billion), libraries and archives ($576 million) and other museums ($506 million).

Federal spending was up by 7% (to $1.9 billion) on cultural activities. Three-quarters ($1.4 billion) was spent on arts related activity (including broadcasting and film), with the remainder ($472 million) spent on heritage activities.

State and territory governments spent $2.6 billion, a rise of 11% from the previous year. Nature parks and reserves were the largest single recipient of funding, receiving $1.0 billion, as well as receiving the largest dollar increase in funding (up 10% or $95 million) from the previous year.

The local government sector put in $973 million towards cultural activities in 2005-06, up 8% on last year. Local government accounted for 18% of the total cultural spending.