The Abbott government cannot claim it has a credible path back to a surplus until the state of Australia's politics improves, says prominent economist Chris Richardson.
Mr Richardson, from Deloitte Access Economics, says an improvement in the budget in the next few years relies on the Senate rapidly agreeing to measures left over from last year's budget.
It also relies on the states accepting the $80 billion spending cuts that were also unveiled last year, he says in his Deloitte Access Economic business outlook that was released on Monday.
"Short of believing in the tooth fairy, it's hard to call any path back to surplus `credible' unless and until you can see a similar credible path back to bipartisanship in Australia," Mr Richardson says.
"Unless our politicians start agreeing fast, then our deficits will linger."
Last May's budget forecast a surplus in 2019/20.
While he has no problems with Treasury's economic forecasts, he says the budget remains hostage to China's fortunes.
"If China were to stumble, the Australian economy would take a hit and the Australian budget would be hospitalised," he said.
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