Scott Morrison has again shown he is out of the loop when it comes to decisions being made by the Turnbull government, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen says.
He said the treasurer last week didn't know the date of the budget had been changed and now he doesn't know of a plan for the states to be able to raise income tax, as confirmed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
On Wednesday morning Mr Morrison refused to say if the tax change was being considered, dismissing it as the usual "speculation" in the run-up to a COAG meeting.
"Then the prime minister, without the treasurer standing next to him, announces it in Penrith as a big federation reform," Mr Bowen told reporters in Sydney.
"(But) just a short time ago ... the treasurer was denying it ever happened, saying the prime minister had not said the states would be able to increase their own income tax rates."
He said this was just another sign of dysfunction at the highest level of government.
