Scott Morrison has his back against the wall as Budget countdown begins

SCOTT Morrison is heading into the toughest six weeks of his political life, with colleagues warning that his job could be on the line if he doesn’t perform.

Treasurer Scott Morrison makes a firm point during Question Time.

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SCOTT Morrison is heading into the toughest six weeks of his political life, with colleagues warning that his job could be on the line if he doesn’t perform.

The Treasurer is carrying the burden of delivering his second budget — and it’s a tightrope between balancing the books while avoiding vote-losing cuts.

“He’ll need to perform or he’s out,” one Liberal frontbencher told The Sunday Telegraph.

Critics say they have ­developed a “grudging respect” for the tough-talking Treasurer.

“He could hang on, but it’s his to lose.”

Even as Labor ­prepares to hit the road in a pre-budget blitz across Queensland and NSW, Morrison cannot be underestimated.

In the early days of the Abbott era ScoMo was considered one of the ­Coalition’s best performers, delivering election-winning performances in politically toxic portfolios.

As the government’s immigration hard man, he methodically enforced Australia’s policy of turning back boatloads of ­asylum seekers.

“Scott ran dead and it hasn’t been forgotten.”

As social services minister, he handed down a sweeping review of the welfare system in an effort to restrain costs and set up a sustainable system for the future.

He was a rising star and was rewarded with the top economic job when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull came to power in September 2015.

Critics say they have ­developed a “grudging respect” for the tough-talking Treasurer from Sydney’s southern beaches.

“I have been pretty ­impressed with him,” one frontbench colleague said.

“He gets across the detail pretty quickly.”

Morrison was slammed for the government’s superannuation proposal. Picture: Kym Smith

Turnbull’s decision to appoint a staunch conservative to the Treasury portfolio was seen as a way of mending the deep divisions within the ­Coalition following the spill.

It was also a chance for the government to reset its economic agenda and do some much-needed repair work after the disastrous 2014 ­budget.

But some Liberals remain unconvinced by Morrison and criticise  his  inability to sell the government’s economic ­message.

There was a false start on moving to give the states ­income tax powers.

Then the government ­flirted with the idea of changing the GST distribution.

“He is doing well given the situation we are in.”

Unfairly on not, Morrison also copped a lot of flak for the government’s superannuation proposal which left voters fearful their retirement nest eggs would be eroded.

Angry Coalition MPs also blamed the policy for costing them votes at the July election last year.

In recent weeks Morrison has been forced to brush off suggestions that he has been sidelined as the government’s chief economic salesman amid rumours Turnbull will take a leading role.

“The Prime Minister is ­always the chief economic spokesman for the government, always has been, always should be,” he told ABC Radio this week.

“The Prime Minister and I work together as a team on these things.”

But it’s that close relationship which also has Morrison on the nose.

Liberal MPs were initially surprised and somewhat pleased by Morrison’s close working relationship with Turnbull as the pair appeared to be in lock-step in the lead up to last year’s Budget.

But those on the right have questioned his loyalty to the conservative cause, unable to forget his apathy during the 2015 spill.

“Scott ran dead and it hasn’t been forgotten,” a Liberal source said.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is now considered the doyen of the party’s Right faction. Unlike Morrison, Dutton has managed to form a bond with the Prime Minister while staying close to the Abbott camp.

In recent weeks, Dutton has also taken a lead role in managing the warring factions in the Liberal party during debates around 18C and same-sex marriage in what many have described as an “aspirational” move.

It is a headache Morrison and the government could do without.

Despite these distractions, many of Morrison’s colleagues agree that he has a strong track record of devising and selling difficult policies and is up to the task of delivering a “tough but fair” budget.

“The challenge for Scott is immense,” one Liberal frontbencher said.

“He is doing well given the situation we are in.

“We have a hostile Senate and a politically craven Labor Party yet we have still managed to pass savings.

“Second to the Prime ­Minister he has the toughest job in the parliament — but there is no question he has been performing.”

Putting together a budget is an unenviable task.

Not only will ambitious colleagues be watching his every move waiting for a slip up. Morrison will also be forced to deal with a pre-­budget campaign by Labor designed to put pressure on the government over cuts to penalty rates.

How Labor’s new-look bus could look on its fortnight blitz.

While the Treasurer and his colleagues spend the next six weeks trying to balance the Budget books, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Labor is planning to launch a pre-budget ground assault as soon as parliament rises at the end of the week.

The Opposition will bring back the “Bill Bus” for a two-week campaign in Queensland and NSW in an attempt to blame the government for the ­recent Fair Work Commission ruling on penalty rates.

Labor leader Bill Shorten will also be holding series of town hall meetings in regional cities in an effort to destabilise the government’s economic message.

“Malcolm spends all his time in Canberra or in Point Piper, cut off from the rest of Australia,” Mr Shorten said.

“Labor will take our campaign to the suburbs and ­regions of Australia.”

It is a headache Morrison and the government could do without.

One area where Morrison may be able to claw back support is housing affordability which the government has promised to tackle in this year’s budget.

Colleagues believe he is open to solutions and won’t disappoint on budget night.

But they have also urged him to maintain pressure on the mainly-Labor state treasurers who are quick to blame Canberra for the housing ­affordability crisis.