Leaked details of Budget ad reveal details of Turnbull Government measures

A ‘HUMILIATING’ leak has revealed details of the government’s Budget measures as Malcolm Turnbull confirms expected election timing.

A LEAKED script for a Federal Government TV ad campaign appears to have put some meat on the bones of Scott Morrison’s first Budget.

The script suggests the Treasurer aims to save $16 billion over the next four years through changes to superannuation, multinational taxation and other tax changes.

It comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed he would be calling a double dissolution election for July 2, at an “appropriate time” after the Budget is delivered on May 3.

Mr Turnbull is not able to call an election officially until Budget week.

In a press conference this morning he said the Senate’s rejection of the Australian Building and Construction Industry Bill “will be the trigger for a double dissolution election”.

He said his “very strong expectation” was the election would be held on July 2.

Mr Turnbull said voters would have a say on whether there should be an ABCC and linked better construction oversight to more jobs, affordable housing and more affordable hospitals, schools, and roads.

LEAKED BUDGET DETAILS

But Mr Turnbull was not keen to talk about the leaked ad script and batted away questions about whether taxpayer funds would be used to spruik the Budget measures.

“No decisions have been taken in that regard,” he said.

Sky News says it has seen the script for the taxpayer-funded television advertisements, which have already been filmed.

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop said she was unaware of the post-Budget campaign.

“I certainly haven’t heard anything to that effect,” Ms Bishop told Sky News on Tuesday.

Labor has described the report as a “humiliating leak” and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was an act of “internal sabotage”.

Labor has outlined $100 billion of savings and revenue measures over the next decade, which will mostly go to the Budget bottom line.

“We haven’t finished outlining how we’ll do Budget repair,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Labor’s finance spokesman Tony Burke says the ads are an election strategy because none of the measures will have been implemented before parliament is dissolved.

Mr Burke believes the ads should be paid for by the Liberal Party, not the taxpayer.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce concedes it will be a difficult Budget because of the “class-one clown act” left behind by Labor in government with the support of the Greens.

All eyes on PM Malcolm Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison in the lead up to Question Time. Picture Kym Smith

Less than a day after the coalition positioned itself as the best friend of owner-operator truck drivers by abolishing a controversial tribunal, there are now strong hints it will find cash to build an inland freight railway link connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via rural NSW.

Transport Minister Darren Chester penned an opinion piece for The Australian saying the 1700km project could provide a transit time of less than 24 hours.

It also has the potential to take 200,000 truck movements off the road.

“As a passionate advocate for reducing road trauma, this is a project that will save lives,” Mr Chester said.

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson believes the leak was a deliberate ploy to put the government’s agenda out early.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz said he was not aware of the Budget leak when asked whether it was possible supporters of Tony Abbott were responsible.

“One would assume a Budget leak if it did occur would have been undertaken by somebody who actually knows what may or may not be in the Budget,” he told reporters.