Australia's competition watchdog is on track to run out of money within months and Treasurer Joe Hockey is pointing the blame at the previous Labor government.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is charged with regulating national consumer law and is funded by the federal government.
"I've not only been told that the ACCC has been running operational losses for the last four years, I've been advised that this financial year - because the previous government didn't give it any money - the ACCC will run out of money in April," Mr Hockey told ABC radio on Thursday.
"In a meeting with the ACCC they tell me ... they are under-funded for the next four years by over $100 million."
But shadow treasurer Chris Bowen played down the funding shortfall as a "furphy" from Mr Hockey.
"Different government agencies from time to time require a top-up," Mr Bowen told ABC radio.
"They stay open, they do their jobs and a top-up is arranged ... and this is very common across the board."
He said the financial position of the ACCC has been made public every year in its annual report and there is no crisis.
