Budget paper one night stand ends for Treasury officials

It could be the most hated or most coveted job at Treasury, depending on how firm you like your mattress.

For many years two officials at Treasury have traded counting sheep for counting decimal places, spending the night at Parliament House guarding the budget papers.

But this year no one at Treasury will be swapping their bed for boxes at Parliament House.

Treasury won't say how long it's been common practice for departmental officials to spend the night locked up in parliament guarding the budget papers until they are opened and studied by journalists before the treasurer delivers the budget.

What it will say is that it has found room for innovation in the logistical exercise, and the budget papers will stay securely at the printing facility until the morning of budget day.

In previous years the budget papers would be delivered late on the Monday to a parliamentary basement, before heading upstairs on the Tuesday.

The later delivery time has removed the need for a budget sleep-over, but a Treasury spokesman confirmed as soon as they come off the truck they will constantly be monitored by department officials.

"Treasury maintains an appropriate level of security at all times to protect the embargo on the budget papers," the spokesman said.