Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended the prospect of his government introducing a deficit levy in next week's federal budget, arguing that "in the long run" voters will thank the Coalition for taking strict measures to reduce debt levels.

Following a weekend poll that found more than 70 per cent of surveyed voters think a deficit levy would be a broken promise - given Mr Abbott's pre-election pledge of no new taxes - the Prime Minister has argued that the "most fundamental commitment" the Coalition made was to "get Labor's debt and deficit under control".

As the government heads into its final week of preparations for the May 13 budget, Mr Abbott conceded on Monday that people would be disappointed next Tuesday.

"No one likes difficult decisions. Governments don't like difficult decisions ... but you’ve just got to make hard decisions at a time like this, otherwise our country is doomed to years of economic stagnation and I think in the long run, the voters will thank us for doing what is absolutely necessary," he said on Channel Nine's Today program.