The federal government has put an unfair "dare" to the opposition by insisting the Senate pass ageing savings measures to fund budget spending, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says.
The Tasmanian parliamentarian said if the Abbott government pushed ahead with its planned trade-off, which involves increasing early childhood education funding at the cost of some family tax benefits, it would backfire.
"I share the concerns of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and the dare that has been made by the government of the opposition," he told reporters in Hobart on Monday.
The government is proposing a "fundamentally unfair" exchange in cutting billions of dollars from one area to fund another, Mr Wilkie said.
"That's the sort of unfairness that got the government into strife 12 months ago and I'm sure will get the government into strife this time around if they go ahead with it."
Mr Wilkie also took a swipe at the government's claim of clamping down on "double dipping" in the paid parental leave system.
Under the new plan, the taxpayer-funded paid parental leave scheme will only top up employer payments to $11,500 - the maximum amount payable.
At the moment, new parents can get whatever paid parental leave their employer provides plus access the government scheme of 18 weeks at the minimum wage.
"I do not support the comments of the prime minister and others about double dipping," Mr Wilkie said. "They are misleading, they are completely out of step with the government's previous comments made on this matter."
The community wanted to see a better deal delivered on Tuesday than in the 2014 budget, which took money away from the most vulnerable members of society, he added.
"This year I want to see the government get its revenue by going after people and companies that can afford to contribute more - people like high-wage earners, people like politicians who can pay a bit more personal income tax - and to cut a better deal for the disadvantaged members of the community," Mr Wilkie said.
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