turnbull playing with fire says swan

By ABC Online parliamentary correspondent Emma Rodgers

The Prime Minister and Treasurer are ramping up their attack on Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's decision to block the Government's $42 billion economic stimulus package.

Mr Swan accused Mr Turnbull of "playing with fire" and Mr Rudd demanded he "get out of the road" and allow the package, comprised of infrastructure funds and cash handouts, to pass the Senate.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has spent the day in meetings with around 200 business, community and education representatives about implementing the package immediately.

"They all have projects which are shovel-ready; what's standing in the road of those projects beginning is Mr Turnbull," Mr Rudd said.

"I would say to Mr Turnbull and the Liberal Party, get out of the road of the Government getting on with the job of nation building and supporting jobs at a time of national economic emergency.

"When we have organisations such as the IMF [International Monetary Fund] ... saying loud and clear to governments like Australia that it is time to act through stimulus, and when necessary borrow for that stimulus, that is counsel enough for this Government to get on with that business of doing it."

Treasurer Wayne Swan says Mr Turnbull is playing with people's lives by putting payments to low and middle-income earners at risk.

"I say to you there is no certainty that all of the minor parties and independents will vote for this legislation and therefore no certainty without the Liberal Party's support that this will pass in a speedy way," he said.

Mr Swan says the Government will be talking to the Greens and independent senators about the package, which is now before a Senate inquiry.

Mr Turnbull is standing firm on his position, despite admitting today that the Coalition will probably be "hammered in the polls" over its stance.

"I thought it was going to be poisonously unpopular, frankly," he said.

"And we all felt we are going to get hammered into the ground in the opinion polls, and we probably will be."

Last night Treasury head Ken Henry told the inquiry that a large stimulus package was needed to keep the country out of recession.

But Mr Turnbull believes the package should be much smaller and tax cuts should be brought forward instead of the use of cash payments.

A vote on the package is expected late next week.

Dave R.