Scott Morrison has no illusions about the "difficult" task of cutting government spending but is backing his ability to do it.
"About 85 per of the savings measures - actually a bit higher than that - that we've put over the last two years we've actually implemented," the treasurer told Sky News on Sunday.
Plans outlined in the last budget to cut expenditure as a percentage of GDP from 25.9 per cent to 25.3 were on track, he said, with a further 10 billion dollars in savings earmarked in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook in December.
Mr Morrison reiterated his view that government spending above 25 per cent of GDP was unsustainable.
"History tells us that if it's anything more than a quarter then you're on the way to a surplus, which is not a desirable type of surplus," he said.
"You want one which is sustainable at a realistic level.
"You can have a surplus at any level of expenditure so long as your taxes are higher than that."
Mr Morrison has also pledged that the government's proposed changes to the tax system will be laid out "in chapter and verse" to the Australian people in the lead up to this year's election.
A range of options remain on the table, with Mr Morrison admitting a Labor proposal to raise taxes on tobacco, lifting the price of a pack of cigarettes to $40, was yet to be ruled out.
Mr Morrison has also refused to be drawn on whether the government is considering either increasing the rate of the GST or broadening its base into other areas such as health and education.
Any potential tax changes were being looked at as part of a wider economic plan.
"Right now, the issue is not the GST," he said.
"What we're trying to achieve is higher rates of jobs growth in particular and how is the tax system actually stopping people ... achieving the goals they want to achieve."
Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said the government was failing to give a clear outline of its tax reform agenda, instead floating idea "thought bubbles".
He said an increase in the GST would hurt household consumption and accused the government of refusing to engage in the tax debate.
"Australians want to know Scott Morrison not only cares about an issue, but precisely what he's going to do about it," he told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
Share
