Cormann flags adjustments to budget

The Abbott government will make budget adjustments but it won't split the mining tax bill, says Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.

Joe Hockey

Labor says government plans to reboot its unfair budget would only be tinkering at the edges. (AAP)

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the government will consider an "adjustment here and an adjustment there" to its budget.

However, he ruled out wholesale changes, amid reports the government are considering concessions on the $7 GP co-payment, university fee deregulation and the mining tax.

The coalition wants to reboot its budget in an effort to get it through the Senate, with key crossbenchers still opposing the contentious health, education and welfare proposals.

"There may be an adjustment here and an adjustment there, but we are absolutely determined to get our budget through," Senator Cormann told reporters in Perth.

"There is still time ... to engage in good faith with the crossbenchers in the Senate and work these issues through."

He denied the government would split its legislation to scrap the mining tax, in an effort to appease the Palmer United Party (PUP).

The PUP has said it will only back the bill if associated spending on the Schoolkids Bonus and low-income superannuation contribution is retained.

"We cannot afford to keep unfunded spending promises that Labor attached to their failed mining tax," the finance minister said.

Labor and the Greens are calling on the government to dump the budget altogether.

"They should just go back to the drawing board," deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek told Sky News.


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