THE man who headed the divisive Commission of Audit that inspired the Government’s tough Budget has taken aim at Australians, saying people need to stop complaining and think about what they are prepared to sacrifice.

Tony Shepherd yesterday said those unhappy with the Budget – which included a raft of changes to the age pension, higher education and various forms of welfare – needed to consider the broader interests of the nation.

The Courier-Mail yesterday provoked a nationwide debate with its “Larrikins to Whingers” front page story.

“I think it’s a sad reflection on the modern Australian attitude that they can’t see that all areas have to make a contribution and they look at it as a narrow, sectional issue,’’ Mr Shepherd told Fairfax.

While Prime Minister Tony Abbott conceded senior Coalition figures had faced “an interesting week” in reference to the post-Budget fallout, he said some comments had overstepped the mark.

But Mr Abbott singled out one person in particular as a “whinger” – Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

“Mr Shorten basically is kind of Australia’s whinger-in-chief,” he said.

“He has given himself this new job as the head of the complaints bureau.”

Asked whether he agreed with Mr Shepherd’s comments, Mr Abbott said: “I think people are perfectly entitled to pose questions to the Government”.

‘’People will protect their sectional interest, that’s understandable, but I wish people could also stand back, look at the overall picture of the Commonwealth Budget and rather than say ‘don’t touch me’, say ‘what can be our contribution to a sustainable surplus’.’’

LNP MP George Christensen yesterday complained to police after getting a death threat for a Twitter comment that Aussies “should do a tour of Asia & live like locals to put these 1st world complaints re budget in perspective”.

The tweet drew a wave of criticism, but Mr Christensen brushed it aside, saying those attacking him should think about contributing more.

“There is an element who have forgotten that and for them it’s just all about ‘me’,” he said.

“There’s no problem with it being ‘all about me’, as long as you’re not skewing that thought to ‘government’s got to be all about me and I’m entitled to a whole heap of taxpayer dollars’.”

Mr Christensen said he wanted to be blunt with those he believed were making unwarranted complaints about the Budget.

“Sections of the community, they do need to harden up,” he said.

Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said it was not a budget in the national interest.

“This not just a bad budget for families, for pensioners, this is a bad budget for Australia,” Mr Bowen said.