Federal Labor has accused Treasurer Scott Morrison of being in witness protection ahead of the federal budget amid hints the Turnbull government is cooling expectations on housing affordability measures.
"I'm about to issue a public reward for any sightings of the Treasurer," shadow treasurer Chris Bowen told reporters in western Sydney on Saturday, saying Mr Morrison had not made a public appearance since April 10.
"He's gone completely missing. He's in the witness protection program."
Mr Bowen and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten were in the marginal seat of Lindsay to spruik Labor's pre-emptive strike on housing policy to a family keen to buy their first home.
Mr Shorten lamented that Rob and Miriam Ackwright were a hardworking couple with young kids, but were locked out of the property market because of out-of-control prices.
New measures announced by Labor on Friday include a tax on investors who leave properties vacant, and doubling the foreign investment application fees for residential purchases.
Self-managed superannuation funds would also be banned from borrowing for property purchases.
"It's about time Malcolm Turnbull stopped worrying about his own job.. and started worrying about what happens to everyday Australians," Mr Shorten said.
His party had a 2016 election pledge to limit negative gearing tax breaks for property investors and tightening the capital gains tax discount.
Mr Shorten reaffirmed Labor would not make the changes retrospective.
