Abbott coy on audit report release date

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his government will release the commission of audit's report at the "right time" but has hinted that's unlikely to be before the South Australian and Tasmanian elections.

Mr Abbott says the government is carefully considering the interim report's recommendations.

"We will be publicly releasing it at the right time," he said in Sydney on Monday.

Asked whether that might be before this Saturday's state polls, Mr Abbott was non-committal.

"I think it's very important with something as comprehensive as this that when you release it, you're able to give a fairly comprehensive response," he said.

"Obviously we're in the very early days of considering the commission of audit report."

He added the government may be able to say more about the report in the "not too distant future".

The Abbott government has had the report for about three weeks and has been under pressure to release it before this Saturday's state polls and the WA Senate re-run election on April 5.

The commission is due to give the government its final report at the end of March and its recommendations will help shape the May budget.