(Transcript from World News Radio)
Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has told Parliament the Abbott government's first budget is built on lies and will make Australia a meaner place.
In his budget reply speech he's pledged to oppose changes to welfare, pensions and Medicare.
And he's indicated that Labor, if necessary, would be ready to fight the government's proposals in an election campaign.
Thea Cowie reports.
Budget reply speeches are often more about politics than policy or economics.
And Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's response to the Abbott government's first budget is no exception.
"Tonight I rise to speak on behalf of millions of Australians who feel shocked and angry. Shocked by the brutality of this government's attack on their way of life. Angry at a Prime Minister who pretended to be on their side. This budget divides our parliament. More importantly, it will divide our nation."
Mr Shorten's budget in reply speech has not unveiled a single new policy or strategy to make up for budget measures he opposes.
Instead, he has outlined how he believes the Coalition is making life harder for families, students, the young, the old and the sick.
And he says the Abbott government's first budget is a sign of worse to come.
"This is just the beginning of turning Australia into a place most of us won't recognise - a colder, meaner, narrower place. Losing our sense of fairness and our sense of community."
Mr Shorten criticised the government's funding cuts to hospitals, schools and higher education.
He made it clear Labor will not support a string of budget measures, including fuel excise indexation and tightening unemployment benefits.
After calling the Prime Minister a phony and attacking him for breaking election promises, Mr Shorten's made some promises of his own.
"I make this solemn pledge to Australia's pensioners: Labor will not surrender the security of your retirement. We will fight for a fair pension and we will prevail. (hear, hear. Applause). Labor will never, never give up on Medicare (hear, hear. Applause)."
Mr Shorten also used his speech to attack the Treasurer's argument that the government had to make 36-billion dollars in cuts to clean up Labor's mess and deal with a so-called "budget emergency".
He says Labor's legacy - of low interest rates, low inflaction and a triple-A credit rating - is not an excuse for savage cuts.
"This is a budget drawn up by people who have never lived from pay cheque to pay cheque. Never sat at the kitchen table with a stack of bills to work out which ones they can put off and which ones have to be paid to avoid being cut off."
The Coalition will have to secure cross-bench votes to get its Budget measures through the Senate.
If it can't do so, the country could go back to the polls - and that's something Mr Shorten's not shying away from.
"If you want an election try us. If you think Labor is too weak (applause). If you think Labor is too weak bring it on. But remember, it is never about you or I Prime Minister, it is about the future of our nation and the wellbeing of the Australian people. (hear, hear. Applause)"
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