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Note 16: Government Superannuation Fund (GSF) Liability

The GSF liabilities have been calculated by the Government Actuary as at 30 June 2006. The liabilities arise from closed schemes for past and present public sector employees (set out in the GSF Act 1956). A Projected Aggregate Funding Method, based on balance-date membership data, is used for the valuation. This method requires the benefits payable from the GSF in respect of past service to be estimated and then discounted back to the valuation date.

The GSF net unfunded liability included as at 30 June 2006 was $11,438 million. This was an increase of $7 million compared with 30 June 2005.

The 2006 movement in the net unfunded liability of $7 million reflects an increase in the gross liability of $279 million and an increase in net assets of $272 million.

The main drivers of the movement in the net unfunded liability are changes to the economic assumptions since 30 June 2005 and actual GSF experience to 30 June 2006.

The changes in underlying assumptions accounts for $359 million of the movement. The significant change in valuation assumptions was an increase in the Consumer Price Index, of 2.25% (2.0% as at 30 June 2005). The other principal long-term financial assumptions used in the calculation remained unchanged, which were an average after-tax discount rate of 3.8% and an annual salary increases rate, before any promotional effects, of 3.0%. The remainder of the change is due to actual fund experience.

Forecast Actual
Original Budget $m Estimated Actual $m 30 June 2006 $m 30 June 2005 $m
GSF Liability and Asset Information
Gross GSF Liability
14,103 14,952 Opening gross liability 14,952 13,542
(24) 409 Net projected change 279 1,410
14,079 15,361 Closing Gross Liability 15,231 14,952
Less Net Assets Available to the GSF Scheme
3,510 3,521 Opening asset value 3,521 3,375
Net projected change:
- 455 - Investment valuation changes 368 279
77 (208) - Contributions and other income less membership payments (96) (133)
77 247 Total projected change 272 146
3,587 3,768 Closing Net Asset Values 3,793 3,521
Net Unfunded Liability of the GSF Schemes
10,593 11,431 Opening unfunded liability 11,431 10,167
(101) 162 Net projected change 7 1,264
10,492 11,593 Net Unfunded Liability 11,438 11,431
Reconciliation of the movement in Unfunded Liability between years
Opening balance 11,431 10,167
Expected service cost 221 208
Expected interest cost 622 548
Change in underlying valuation assumptions 359 1,240
Experience gains and asset gains (197) (110)
Expected return on assets (207) (199)
Change in data (152) 227
Expected contributions (639) (650)
Closing Balance 11,438 11,431
Note 16: Government Superannuation Fund (GSF) Liability (continued)
30 June 2006 $m 30 June 2005 $m
Liabilities to Pensioners
Pensioners 9,054 8,700
Deferred pensioners 943 871
Liabilities to Contributors
General Government Superannuation Fund members 4,051 3,897
Police 635 897
Armed Forces 389 428
Judges 58 59
Prison Services 41 41
Islands 45 43
Members of Parliament 15 16
Total Liabilities in respect of Past Services 15,231 14,952
Less Assets available to schemes 3,793 3,521
Total Net Pension Liabilities 11,438 11,431
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