PBO beef-up not a Treasury attack: Bowen

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen denies his proposal to beef up the independent Parliamentary Budget Office is a no-confidence vote in the Treasury.

In one of his party's first policies since losing the 2013 election, Mr Bowen flagged that Labor would legislate for the PBO to prepare economic forecasts and projections for the government separate from those made by Treasury.

"Any government that has confidence in its approach should not fear this," Mr Bowen told Sky News on Sunday.

"I would not fear it as a Labor treasurer."

Former treasurer Wayne Swan supported the idea, he said.

British Chancellor George Osborne, as well as other countries, had implemented this reform, Mr Bowen said.

He maintained it was best practice worldwide and would ensure economic forecasts were free from political interference.

"I want to see improved accountability and transparency leading to improved rigour in fiscal policy-making," he said.

Mr Bowen repeated claims that Treasurer Joe Hockey had doubled the deficit for political purposes.