If the coalition believes the budget has deteriorated further they should release the mid-year review as soon as possible rather than waiting until January, interim Labor leader Chris Bowen says.
Treasurer Joe Hockey released the final budget outcome for 2012/13 on Friday which showed a deficit of $18.8 billion.
He said instead of the surplus promised by Labor in the 2012/13 budget, when it was released in May 2012, the bottom line has blown out by over $20 billion.
But Mr Bowen, the former Labor treasurer, says Mr Hockey has "completely ignored" Labor's economic statement.
Mr Bowen released the economic statement in August just prior to the election and flagged the $18.8 billion deficit.
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"There is not one dollar of difference in the 2012/13 budget outcome," he told reporters in Sydney.
Mr Hockey's media release was "full of spin and misleading commentary which does him no credit at all", Mr Bowen said.
He said the treasurer also hinted there is a further deterioration in the budget position.
"He should tell us what it is. He can do that by releasing the mid-year economic forecast."
He said Mr Hockey was releasing this later than normal, in January when Australia will not be focused on the budget.
"This is not transparency and is part of a growing and clear culture of secrecy in the Abbott government," he said.
He likened delaying the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook to the government's refusal to reveal when asylum seeker boats arrive or tell Australians whether they have attempted to turn back boats.
He also said by trying to paint a deterioration in the budget deficit when there is not was is trying to create an alibi for further budget cuts to come.
"This is dishonest and unacceptable," Mr Bowen said.
