Treasurer Joe Hockey has threatened to find alternative savings if the Senate blocks his budget.
"There are other alternatives that we can take," he declared on Wednesday.
The government is facing an uphill battle to get measures such as the GP co-payment through the upper house, with Labor, the Greens and crossbenchers opposing many of the measures.
Mr Hockey says the government is open to negotiation on its budget.
But, pointing to the billions in foreign aid cuts, he said some savings don't require legislation.
"Now I say to the Labor party and to the Greens, if your instinct is to say `no' immediately and to stick with that you are dealing yourself out of having an influence on public policy," Mr Hockey told ABC radio.
The treasurer denied he was threatening retribution.
"We've got to deal with reality and that is the budget must be repaired," he said.
"We would hope that the Senate would be a partner in that process."
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