Does the Federal Government have a Surplus or Profit?

In business, a profit is the amount of money you have left over after you have paid all your bills.  All your employees must be paid, all your debt serviced, all your creditors up to date.  If you haven't paid all your staff, you haven't got a profit.  If you have a profit you can give the money to the people who own the business (distribution) or invest it back in the business.

Not for profit businesses call the profit a "surplus" because they don't pay a distribution.  Any left over money stays in the business.

I've started thinking about the Federal Government and comparing it to a business.

The Australian Federal Government is a not for profit organisation.  That's why it has a "Budget Surplus".  However, last time I looked, not everyone had been paid and not all it's services have been performed.  I wonder whether the Government can really tell anyone that it has a Surplus (Profit).

Here's a thought - pensioners don't get enough money to live on.  We know this because whenever they are asked, Federal Politicians say they could not live on the pension.  Pensioners have been saying it for years.  So, does the Government have a surplus if pensioners haven't been paid properly?

There's a 17 year gap in the life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.  http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/indigenous-health/

That means that some Australians born today are expected to life 17 years longer than some other Australians.  A pretty dangerous game of lucky dip.  Can the  Australian Government make a $20billion profit this year and allow this to continue?

Another advantage the Australian Government has is there is no competition.  It's not as if one can choose to use a different government this week.  That means that when the Government introduces a new tax (alcopops, anyone?) you pretty much have to cop it.  I like alcopops.  It means that when I go to a BBQ I can take 2 cans of Cougar Zero (to make my pants fit nice) rather than a bottle of bourbon and a bottle of coke and some plastic cups.   But I have to pay the tax.  Hard to opt out.  

I'll push on with this topic later on, but right now I'm thinking I really want to buy shares in the Australian Government.