Govt check-up on tax concessions: senator

The federal government will take a fresh look at everything in its budget, including superannuation tax concessions and negative gearing.

Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos says the very fact the government is now talking about having "more degrees of freedom in what we do on the tax front" is a breakthrough from where it stood under former prime minister Tony Abbott.

"It means looking at the various measures to see whether they're still fit for purpose, whether they still help promote efficiency, they help to promote growth while looking after the most vulnerable," he told ABC radio on Friday.