Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt has labelled the Prime Minister's comments about jobseekers as uncompassionate and a distraction from the real economic issues confronting this budget.

"At a huge cost to public revenue, the Government caved in on the mining tax and is planning to give billions more in tax cuts to big business," he said.

"We're in deficit because of the global financial crisis, but instead of asking big business to contribute its fair share to the budget, Labor is taking a stick to those in our community who are doing it the toughest."

"Any revenue shortfall is in large part due to the Government's own making."

"With low unemployment and already tough welfare requirements, Australia's economy is not threatened by jobseekers.

"Currently Australians receiving the Newstart allowance must apply for at least 10 jobs each fortnight and they have an obligation to take a reasonable job offer or risk losing payments that equate to around $34 per day."

"We should be removing the $5 billion given to the mining industry in fuel rebates or reversing big business tax cuts before cutting welfare or medical research funding."

Contact: Jake Wishart 0457 244 867