Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi has joined calls from within the government to dump a controversial income tax rise.
Treasurer Joe Hockey is expected to announce in Tuesday's budget a hike in income tax for the highest earners to help return the budget to surplus.
But he is facing pressure from within the Liberal party to dump the measure.
"I hope for the good of the country it will simply disappear," Senator Bernardi said in an email to supporters on Wednesday.
"Most of the people I have been speaking to this week hope it disappears too."
Aged pensioners had been in tears in phone calls to the senator's office because of what they think might be in the budget.
Business people were worried about potential increased costs, while families were concerned about how they were going to pay the bills if things were made tougher for them, he said.
"Of course I share their concerns and sincerely hope that their fears will not be realised."
Share
