Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report – 2012 Financial Statements Note 2 – Net Profits

Note 2012 $M 2011 $M
Interest revenue
Overseas investments 1(b), 4 325 391
Australian dollar securities 1(b), 4 1,508 1,497
Overnight settlements 4 41 41
Gold loans 1(c), 4
Loans, advances and other 4 1 1
  1,875 1,930
Net gains on securities and foreign exchange
Overseas investments 1(b) 426
Australian dollar securities 1(b) 188
Foreign currency 1(b) (228)
  386
Dividend revenue
Earnings on shares in Bank for International Settlements 1(b) 4 4
Fees and commissions      
Banking services fees received   24 20
Other income      
Reimbursement by Australian Government for loan
management and registry expenses
  1 1
Rental of Bank premises   9 9
Sales of note and security products   66 63
Other   21 25
  97 98
Total 2,386 2,052
Less:      
Interest expense
Deposit liabilities 1(b), 4 753 643
Currency note holdings of banks 1(b), 4 123 133
Repurchase agreements 1(b), 4 13 22
  889 798
Net losses on securities and foreign exchange
Overseas investments 1(b) 94
Australian dollar securities 1(b) 26
Foreign currency 1(b) 5,666
  5,786
General administrative expenses
Staff costs   192 141
Superannuation costs 1(h), 14 45 45
Special redundancy/retirement payments   2 2
Depreciation of property 1(d), 8 7 8
Depreciation of plant and equipment 1(d), 8 18 18
Premises and equipment 1(d) 38 39
Materials used in note and security products   48 36
Travel   3 3
Consultants' fees, legal fees and payments to contractors   8 5
Other   9 6
  370 303
Other expenses
Agency business reimbursement   7 3
Subsidiary income tax   3 2
Cash distribution expenses   5 5
Other   36 44
  51 54
Total   1,310 6,941
Net Profit   1,076 (4,889)

Staff costs in 2011/12 include an expense of $34.4 million associated with the increase in the balance of the provision for post-employment benefits (in 2010/11 there was income of $4.6 million) (refer Note 10). Post-employment healthcare costs of $34.5 million are included in Staff costs ($4.5 million in 2010/11). The large increase in these provisions mainly reflected the fall in the discount rate, as measured by the yield on Commonwealth Government bonds. Excluding provisions, staff costs rose by 5.6 per cent in 2011/12.

The RBA's aggregate research and development expenditure recognised as an expense in 2011/12 was $0.6 million ($0.6 million in 2010/11); this is included in Other expenses.