As Scott Morrison seemingly cops it from all sides over his handling of the budget, his downgraded Australian growth forecasts seem about right at this stage.
After handing down his debut mid-year budget review on Tuesday, the treasurer has been criticised for not taking greater control of deficits and debt, while at the same time being accused of making harsh cuts to pay for new spending since May.
Government revenue suffered a further hit from tumbling commodity prices, creating bigger deficits, more debt and another delay in returning to a surplus.
KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynnes says the problem isn't just low commodity prices but the economy itself.
He says sluggish growth far outweighs the weakness from iron ore prices when it comes to government revenue.
"The May budget didn't stack up from the start ... it simply assumed far too much tax revenue relative to GDP," Mr Rynnes told AAP.
"Even now it's still on the aggressive side."
New figures on Wednesday suggest Treasury's new growth figures are more on the money after downgrading the 2015/16 forecast to 2.5 per cent and 2.75 per cent for 2016/17.
The latest Westpac-Melbourne Institute leading index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity three to nine months into the future, points to the growth remaining below 2.75 per cent in the first half of next year.
Mr Morrison hit the airwaves to defend his approach to the budget, saying the suggestion that he should be chasing commodities prices down a hole with even more significant savings measures or higher taxes would put jobs and growth at risk.
At the same time he is being attacked for placing the greater burden of over $10 billion of savings on the health system.
"I've got a simple message to all those who take issue with the savings measures. Show us your alternatives," Mr Morrison told ABC radio.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has indicated that Labor would oppose the changes to bulk-billing arrangements for pathology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diagnostic imaging services.
"Our initial instinct is to stand up in defence of Medicare," Mr Shorten told reporters in Sydney.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said some measures are particularly harsh.
"We're back in 2014 budget territory under Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison," he told ABC radio in reference to former treasurer Joe Hockey's first budget which was widely condemned.
Shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh said the government was spectacularly failing its own "hallmark economic management test" that it set from opposition.
Asked on ABC radio if Labor could do a better job at returning the budget to surplus, Dr Leigh said: "You couldn't do worse".
