PM might need an aircraft for debt: Labor

Labor has lampooned Prime Minister Tony Abbott over his suggestion that government debt levels near 60 per cent of national income are acceptable.

The opposition's junior Treasury spokesman Andrew Leigh said when debt was a seventh of national income under Labor, Mr Abbott used to drive around in debt trucks to make a political point.

"Debt's heading to half national income, which to my mind would require a debt aircraft," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.