It's a case of 'thanks Tony, but no thanks'.
Treasurer Scott Morrison won't be taking up Tony Abbott's suggestion to revisit the former prime minister's controversial 2014/15 budget as a way of repairing the nation's finances.
"I don't think a re-run of the 14/15 budget is what the government is looking at," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
He also sidestepped Mr Abbott's idea of returning to cabinet under Malcolm Turnbull, saying the government already had a strong team.
Mr Abbott believes there needs to be a "big new push" to repair the budget and going back to his government's first budget would be a good start even if did ruin the credibility of then treasurer Joe Hockey as it drew widespread criticism for measures like the so-called GP tax.
Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers thought the advice of restoring the horrific 2014 budget was "deeply troubling".
"When Abbott and the right wing of the Liberal Party make demands on the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull always caves," Dr Chalmers told reporters.
Mr Abbott's intervention came as Mr Morrison struck a deal over the government's controversial backpacker tax, finding agreement with One Nation and other crossbenchers for a 15 per cent impost on seasonal foreign workers, rather than his preferred 19 per cent rate.
However, it means the government has to find another $120 million over the next four years to fill the budget gap left by the comprise.
Mr Morrison said savings would be found in the December 19 mid-year budget review.
"That is something I expect the Labor Party to come to terms with," he said.
"Every time they engage in this bloody mindedness and these political games with the budget, they put our triple-A credit rating at risk."
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen wasn't about to take any lectures from the treasurer, saying it was Mr Morrison who rejected Labor's $1.4 billion worth of budget improvement for the government's superannuation package.
"If he's got a proposal to make ... we'll consider it on its merits," Mr Bowen told reporters.
