Financial Performance of Government Trading Enterprises 1999-00 to 2003-04

The Productivity Commission released an update on the financial performance of 83 Australian, State and Territory Government trading enterprises in July 2005. The study provides data on their financial performance over time and includes comparisons of performance among GTEs in the same industry. In 2003-04, profitability increased in all sectors, other than rail and forestry, compared with the previous year. Despite this improvement, over half of the currently monitored GTEs are still not fully achieving their commercial objectives. The findings of a three year research program into GTE governance are also included in this study. These findings elaborate on issues raised in the Commission's recent National Competition Policy Inquiry Report. Financial performance monitoring of GTEs forms part of the Commission's research into the performance of Australian industries and the progress of microeconomic reform. The GTEs monitored provide services in key sectors of the economy - including electricity, water, urban transport, railways, ports and forestry