Businessman Tony Shepherd, whose national audit helped pave the way for the Abbott government's tough budget, has urged Australians to look at the big picture and put aside sectional interests.
The coalition government's commission of audit head believes the federal budget is fair but tough.
"People will protect their sectional interest.... but I wish people could also stand back look at the overall picture of the commonwealth budget and rather than say 'don't touch me'," he told Fairfax newspapers.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said Mr Shepherd's comments were ironic given the government had contracted out budget planning to the top end of town.
"Tony Shepherd and myself ... people on relatively high incomes aren't taking the hit," he told Sky News.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has hinted Labor will support the temporary deficit levy on high income earners.
The party had not come to a final decision, however he said Labor had bigger battles to fight such as the cuts to Medicare, family payments, pensioners, education and increased university fees.
"It's not the job of national budgets to stuff up family budgets," he told ABC radio.
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