This report discusses the outlook for and drivers of Australian Government spending to help inform discussion about the sustainability of spending over the medium term.

As significant policies and budget measures increasingly impact beyond the short term, this report looks at the medium term which encompasses the Budget forward estimates and the period to 2024-25. Rather than an exhaustive analysis of all the components of government spending, it frames the discussion around the significant contributors to growth in total government spending, and examines trends in these programs over the medium term.