Shifting budget desperate move: Bowen

Moving the budget forward by a week would be a desperate move by the Turnbull government, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen believes.

There is nothing calm or methodical about holding the budget early for the first time in 50 years, he says, arguing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been reduced to desperate measures.

"Devoid of any agenda or vision for the nation, he's now fiddling with the budget timing" Mr Bowen told ABC radio.