Whatever you do, just don't mention recession.

That's the message from Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, using interviews on Thursday to hit out at language they call alarmist and unhelpful – a day after the end of five continuous years of economic growth for the Australian economy.

Wednesday's national accounts figures for the September quarter showed the economy went backwards by 0.5 per cent, surprising forecasters and sending shock waves through the federal government.

The results were Australia's first decline since March 2011 and the largest fall since the global financial crisis, but economists believe the results could be a one-off.