Measure 1996 2006 % Change
Total tax revenue $116 billion $237 billion (inc GST) 104.3 %
GDP $518bn $987bn 90.5%
Education spending $10.12bn $14.77bn 45.9%
Welfare spending $46.7bn $81bn 73.4%
Tourism revenue $11.55bn $20bn 73.2%
Exports goods and services $99.4bn $170bn 71.0%
Imports goods and services $101bn $200bn 98%
Population 18.3 million 20.5 million 12%
Smoking rate 25% 17% down 32%
Obese Australians 2.4 million 3.3 million 37.5%
Average credit card debt $946 $2,732 189%
Unemployment 8.5% 5.3% 37.6%
Foreign debt $193 bn $472 bn 144.6%
Average weekly earnings $591.40 $805.40 36%
Minimum wage $349.40 $484.40 38%
Trade union membership 31% 22.7% down 26.8%
Australians with a uni degree 15.8% 18.61% 17.8%%
Households with a computer 34% 67% 33%
All Ordinaries index 2,250 4,813 113.9%
Pages in the Tax Act 3,500 10,000 185%
Federal health spending $20 billion $45 billion 125%
Net federal debt $96 billion $6 billion down 1500%
Federal budget $9 billion deficit $9 billion surplus 200%
Coal exports $7.8bn $24bn 207.7%
Household debt $223 billion $850 billion 281.2%
Average weekly earnings $664 $1,026 81.6%