Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he'll spell out what a coalition government will spend and where its savings come from well ahead of polling day.
Speaking ahead of the first leaders' debate on Sunday night, Mr Abbott also said a coalition government would return the budget to surplus in its first term, provided the Rudd government's budget figures were correct.
He said the coalition planned to say more about its plans as the campaign progressed.
"Well before polling day, every Australian will know exactly what we are spending, and exactly what we are saving," he told reporters after running in Sydney's City2Surf race.
"They'll know exactly how the fiscal position will be different under the coalition."
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Finance Minister Penny Wong said Mr Abbott hadn't been prepared so far to spell out how he'd pay for his election promises but he would get his chance in the debate.
"I look forward to the debate tonight ... to him saying these are the decisions I would make, these are the cuts I would make," she told Sky News.
Treasurer Chris Bowen said last election the opposition resorted to an accountancy firm to conduct their costings, work later found not to be up to scratch.
Mr Bowen said shadow treasurer Joe Hockey had also said he would use state government agencies to run through his numbers. State treasuries had said that would be inappropriate.
"They released during the week a $5 billion policy with one line in the release about costings," he told ABC television.
"They say they have paid for it with savings previously announced but they can't even agree on how much they have previously announced."
Mr Bowen said there was a $5 billion hole in the coalition's analysis.
"If they want to be taken seriously, submit the figures to Treasury, submit the figures to Department of Finance, comply with the charter of budget honesty," he said.
