Treasurer Joe Hockey has taken a thinly veiled swipe at the Greens for their "perplexing" opposition to a rise in petrol excise, but said the government was "all ears" if the environmental party wanted to re-open negotiations.
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And Mr Hockey said Australians can no longer afford for federal, state and local governments to compete for scarce tax revenue, while cautioning people against being too focused on a possible change to the GST and that the "last position" of government should be to raise a tax.
The Abbott government announced on Tuesday it would introduce its half a cent, twice-yearly hike in fuel excise by regulation after failing to introduce the measure by legislation.
The incremental inflation adjustment, from 38.143 cents per litre to 38.6 cents per litre, will raise an expected $167 million from motorists from November this year, about $2.2 billion over the next four years and $19 billion in a decade.
On Wednesday, Mr Hockey – who in August provoked a storm of protest for playing down the impact of the measure when he said "the poorest people either don't have cars or actually don't drive very far in many cases" – stressed the government estimate of a 40¢ a week impost for a two-child family.
"We have endeavoured to consult with everyone … critics and opponents have had rather perplexing positions that have often varied," he said.
"So if there is any change in their position we are all ears, but we have got to push on, this is $19 billion for the budget over 10 years, and 40¢ a week for families, we have to be able pay our way."
Asked if he would pick up the phone to Greens leader Christine Milne – who has faced internal disquiet over the environmental party's opposition to what is effectively a price on carbon - Mr Hockey said that for "quite some time they [the Greens] didn't even return our calls".
"We are open to discussion, we are not changing our position, what has happened is that others have changed their position, it's bizarre."
Turning to the debate about federation reform, which has prompted Labor to accuse the government of planning to raise the rate or broaden the base of the GST, Mr Hockey said: "I think too many people are focusing on the tail of the horse rather than the head," he said.
"The last position should be to increase a tax, that should be the last position."
On the Mr Abbott's call for a mature debate about federation reform, which will run in parallel with a sweeping review of the tax system, Mr Hockey said the "the days of duplication between Commonwealth, state and local government must be over".
"Effectively the prime minister is encouraging people to participate in a full and frank discussion about the state of the federation and how to better structure the federation."
The reason the government had restarted indexation of fuel excise, is "simply to pay for the biggest road building program in Australia's history and it's not even paying for it in full, it's just making a contribution but the beneficiaries of better roads are the ones who are making a contribution of 40¢ a week".
On Tuesday, Senator Milne said Mr Abbott had disrespected the Parliament by pushing the fuel excise through by regulation.
"Tony Abbott is trying to sneak his toll road fund through the back door. He has zero respect for the Parliament that the Australian people elected," Senator Milne said.
