Treasurer Scott Morrison has admitted the government has gone back to the drawing board on tax reform to boost the economy.
The admission came as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said an early double-dissolution election was an option, but remained hypothetical.
A likely electoral backlash in marginal seats and Treasury modelling showing only a minimal economic benefit has forced Mr Turnbull to take the option of a rise in the GST rate off the table.
The government is now seeking other ways, such as changes to superannuation concessions, to fund a modest round of income tax cuts in the budget.
Treasurer Scott Morrison, who took over the role after Mr Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott in September, told 3AW radio on Friday it was a case of starting afresh with reform.
"It was only last September when we started the approach of looking at issues, whether it was superannuation or the GST or other things like that," Mr Morrison said.
"Those issues were not under consideration before September last year.
"It was not like they were beavering away on them for two years before that."
A spokesman for Mr Abbott rejected Mr Morrison's comments.
"It is simply untrue that the government only started the process of tax reform in September," the spokesman said.
Mr Morrison later tweeted: "My comments on tax issues put back on the table by the PM were not a criticism of Mr Abbott or Mr Hockey but a statement of chronology."
The comments came as Mr Turnbull was asked about the prospects of a double-dissolution election.
The government already has two triggers for dissolving the entire Senate and House of Representatives, but the likely blocking by Labor and the Greens of a set of bills to bring back the building industry watchdog could provide the most useful trigger.
"That's available, but it's not - I'm not - it is an option available to government in those circumstances, but at the moment your question is a hypothetical one," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney.
Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said an early poll remained a "live option".
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said government members were like magicians trying to make voters look somewhere other than where the trick is taking place.
"They need to stop threatening the Australian people with the threat of early elections, just to cover up their lack of action on the economy of Australia," Mr Shorten told reporters in Adelaide.
Mr Turnbull responded to the accusations of inaction by attacking Mr Shorten's policy to dilute negative gearing, saying it would "smash" house prices.
"Every home owner in Australia has a lot to fear from Bill Shorten ... his policies will make your home worth less," Mr Turnbull said at a hastily arranged press conference in Sydney on Friday afternoon.
"You have to look at it very carefully you have to apply great care and attention, you need to you need to use a scalpel if you like, not an axe and what Bill Shorten has done, he has set out to smash the residential housing market."
The latest a double-dissolution election could be called is May 11, the day after the budget is delivered.
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