Tony Abbott has promised to change but that doesn't mean he's about to forget all about last May's controversial budget measures.
Almost a week after the failed Liberal leadership spill, the prime minister is sticking with the premise of a co-payment when visiting the doctor, although he says the government won't be making any further proposals without the broad support of the medical profession.
"We do need to try and inject more cash into the (Medicare) system and a modest patient contribution ... doesn't seem such a terrible way forward," Mr Abbott told Network Ten on Sunday.
But Peter Costello believes measures like the co-payment should go.
The longest serving Liberal treasurer also threw his support behind Treasurer Joe Hockey, who has faced calls for his removal in the leadership washup.
"I do not see any basis whatsoever for changing Joe Hockey," Mr Costello told Network Ten.
He said Mr Hockey is now in budget deliberations and will bring out the intergenerational report later this month that will show the nation is taking from its future.
"Put the budget in that argument, in that context, and then go out and argue why you need to do these things," Mr Costello said.
Such advice came after Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens' stark warning that the country faces a "significant problem" in the future if the growing government debt is not brought into check.
Outspoken Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce agreed that debt growth can't stay on its current trajectory and think there are no ramifications.
"If we can't turn the financial position around, whether it's five, 10, 15, or 20 years time, at a point in the future we will go broke," he told Sky News.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has promised Labor will release its policies well before the election that's due late next year.
"There are things that can be done I believe to put the budget on a much better fiscal path," he said.
A Labor government would aim to make tax concessions in superannuation more fair but he was vague as to whether a change of government would result in more taxes and higher tax rates.
He refused to rule anything in or out, although he said there is no great attraction for anybody just increasing taxes in terms of the rates of taxes - "It can be a blunt instrument".
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