The traditionally sacrosanct defence budget is in the sights of at least one independent MP as an alternative to slashing government carbon reduction programs.
On the day the Gillard government introduced legislation for its $1.8 billion flood levy, the lobby group GetUp presented a group of MPs with a petition, signed by 39,000 people, protesting the cuts particularly in relation to key climate programs.
The government has axed a number of climate programs to help fund its $5.6 billion share of the repair bill for flood-damaged communities, mainly in Queensland. Key independent MPs also have concerns about the cuts.
Independent MP Rob Oakeshott, whose vote for the levy Labor is seeking, says the government needs to consider cuts to a wide range of areas.
The MP said he had a folder full of suggestions from Australian people.
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"I will throw one out there - defence wasn't touched at all in any savings measures," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
"Many people have put to me in e-mails (that) if we got one less JSF (Joint Strike Fighter), that's $110 million right there."
Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt queried why the government was cutting climate programs when scientists were saying there would be more and more severe extreme weather events unless climate change was brought under control.
"People in Australia are saying it makes no sense to take the axe to climate programs to fund the essential work of reconstruction in Queensland and Victoria," he said.
Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie said the crossbench agreed the commonwealth had to foot a large part of the reconstruction bill and no one was going to do anything to stop the money flowing.
The government should allow the budget to remain in deficit for another 12 months notwithstanding Prime Minister Julia Gillard's desire for a return to surplus before the 2013 election.
"That's a misplaced position for her to have," he said. "Whatever happens from here I do think the federal government needs to look anew at their proposed cuts."
NSW independent MP Tony Windsor said he had yet to make a decision on "the structure of the cutbacks or even the validity of a levy".
