Government frontbencher Christopher Pyne is confident the debate about tax changes, including the GST, won't turn people off Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Pyne says the government's plan is to have a "tax switch" away from income tax and towards other taxes but maintains it would be fair and compensate vulnerable Australians.
"I think Australians are quite mature, very sophisticated and they know we can't go on... with the income tax rising every year because of bracket creep," he told the Nine Network on Friday.
Mr Turnbull was vague on a path forward on Thursday night as he told business leaders Australia retained a lot of taxes that were old and applied in a different world.
Labor won't back any changes to the GST but is prepared to join the debate on other tax measures.
But Mr Pyne accused the opposition of "usual carping from the sidelines", pretending Australia didn't have budget problems.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese hit back, advising the government to look at multinational tax evasion and progressive measures in lieu of the GST - which would hit the lowest income earners.
He said it was "extraordinary" Mr Turnbull did not mention the GST in his address to business leaders after the government flagged a possible hike.
"They say they have a plan, they just don't want to tell anyone what it is," he said.
Another government frontbencher, Andrew Robb, reassured Australians changes to tax would not undermine the fairness of the system.
He warned against focusing on one tax element, saying an overall package should focus on the interaction between multiple measures.
"This is not about one particular item," he told ABC radio on Friday.
"We've got to get our thinking above that."
As trade minister, Mr Robb wants the tax system to support innovation and competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific.
"If Australia doesn't get itself positioned to be competitive in that area, then we will miss out on the best opportunity that has ever emerged in our history," he said.
Another government frontbencher, Andrew Robb, reassured Australians changes to tax would not undermine the fairness of the system.
He warned against focusing on one tax element, saying an overall package should focus on the interaction between multiple measures.
"This is not about one particular item," he told ABC radio on Friday.
"We've got to get our thinking above that."
As trade minister, Mr Robb wants the tax system to support innovation and competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific.
"If Australia doesn't get itself positioned to be competitive in that area, then we will miss out on the best opportunity that has ever emerged in our history," he said.
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