FEDERAL Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has denied he plans to block Budget legislation in the Senate.
"We`ll do no such thing," he said on Fairfax radio this morning.
"Of course, we`re not going to block the Budget.
"It would be completely irresponsible to do so. But we certainly are looking at some of the tax measures."
The Opposition has the ability to block legislation in the Senate, where it still has a majority until July 1.
Asked why he was proposing a cut in petrol excise now when the Coalition had opposed it for the 11 years, Dr Nelson said it was the one thing a government could do to reduce the price of petrol.
"I`ve been on a listening tour and the single most important thing for Australians ... is the cost of petrol," he said.
"Watching petrol prices will not bring them down. The one decisive thing that a government can do is reduce the tax on petrol."
It would be a modest measure, but it would help families, he said.
"The thing we`re concerned about is, the Government didn`t say there would be any tax increases before the election, now we`ve got $19 billion worth of tax and revenue measures over the next five years," he said.
