Federal Budget live updates: Hard-sell begins for Turnbull government

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has hit back at accusations of favouring the rich, stating Oppositions attack on tax cuts and negative gearing are all about class war.

THE Government has been grilled over its reluctance to release the 10-year costing of its proposed tax cuts as the Opposition zeroes-in on rising costs for low income earners.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison led the charge in a tumultuous sitting of Parliament in Question Time today to sell last night’s Budget message. But Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has clearly identified tax cuts for those earning over $80,000 and a lack of detailed costing for the Government’s 10-year plan to cut business tax as a weak point, playing into its theme of “fairness” going into the upcoming Federal Election. “Is that really the prime minister’s advice for young Australians struggling to buy their first home - have rich parents?” Mr Shorten asked the prime minister. “Just how out of touch are you?” Mr Turnbull said Labor was “sneering at hard-working Australians who seek to make something for their children”. “This is a political war they want to commence against aspiration, against ambition, against enterprise,” he said. The Prime Minister is expected to visit the governor-general this weekend to seek a double-dissolution election for July 2 - which will be dominated by debate over housing affordability and which party has the better credentials to manage the economy Mobile app users can view the blog here. Follow our live coverage of today’s events below:

Originally published as Federal Budget live updates: Hard-sell begins for Turnbull government

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