Australia’s Department of Finance released July-August 2026 general government financial statements on October 2, comparing the first two months of the fiscal year with the budget profile. The cumulative underlying cash balance to August 31 was a deficit of A$8.0 billion, against a profiled deficit of A$12.5 billion. The fiscal balance showed a A$10.3 billion deficit, compared with a A$14.1 billion profile.

Receipts were A$4.6 billion above profile over the two months, while payments were A$24 million higher. The department cautioned that monthly revenue, receipts, expenses and payments can shift with timing, so cumulative figures should not be projected mechanically across the year. The full-year 2026-27 underlying cash deficit estimate remained A$31.5 billion.