Laminar Group chief economist Stephen Roberts called on MPs to ditch the “political nonsense” over returning the budget to surplus.

Mr Roberts told AAP more spending cuts would put pressure on an already sluggish economy.

“Given an outlook of slowing GDP growth, the budget bottom line should be under pressure, and taking policy actions to counter that pressure makes no sense as it will make worse the deterioration in economic growth.

“Politicians on both sides are showing no understanding of the basics of budgetary policy 101,” he said.

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