Morrison intensifies attack on Labor’s multi-billion dollar budget black hole

SCOTT Morrison has likened Labor’s explanation for their budget black hole as a childhood prank gone wrong as The Government says $30 billion is still unaccounted for.

TREASURER Scott Morrison has intensified his attack on Labor’s multi-billion dollar budget black hole, declaring the opposition believed it could avoid scrutiny because they “only burnt down half the house.”

The Turnbull government will continue their attacks on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s spending spree for the remainder of the campaign because Labor are still unable to account for the splurge.

Liberal strategists believe they are gaining traction on the attack lines because there is still at least $30 billion in Labor spending unaccounted for after the government’s original claim of a $66.9 billion black hole.

Labor operatives were briefing the black hole was as low as $22 billion. Picture Kym Smith

Mr Morrison likened Labor’s explanation to a childhood prank gone wrong.

“It’s like one of those Hollywood films when the parents come home from a weekend away and the kids turn up and say; ‘I only burnt down half the house’,’’ he said.

“That’s what Tony Burke said yesterday. ‘I only burnt down half the house and therefore you should be rewarding me for that fact’.”

Despite Labor claims that the government miscalculated $19 billion in foreign aid spending, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull increased his attacks yesterday.

Mr Turnbull insisted Labor’s black hole had hit $66.9 billion in recent weeks.

“What they must do is treat the Australian people with respect,’’ he said.

“After all, it is our taxes. It’s Australians’ taxes. What Labor should do, is between whirling the spend-o-meter round and round, (Mr Shorten) should set out where he is going to raise the money from because whichever way you look at it there is a black hole.”

On Tuesday, Labor frontbenchers queued up to question the spending, but the finance team was silent.

Labor operatives were briefing the black hole was as low as $22 billion but nobody in the opposition could balance their spend sheet.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten attempted to return the economic debate to a battle between rich and poor, claiming Mr Turnbull was only interested in helping multinational corporations.

“Mr Turnbull’s election Budget, a week before he formally called the election, chose to spend $50 billion in corporate tax cuts,’’ he said.

“Labor’s chosen to spend $49 billion on education and Medicare. Mr Turnbull is spending people’s money, he’s just not spending it on Australian people.”

He said the government would make the cost of going to the doctor more expensive.

“The truth of the matter is what Mr Turnbull is doing is saying he doesn’t have the money to invest in Medicare, in pathology bulk billing, in research into medical care but he has enough money to spend on tax cuts for large banks and major corporations,’’ he said.

Originally published as Morrison intensifies attack on Labor’s multi-billion dollar budget black hole