Treasury officials will not be interrogated about the Abbott government's much-anticipated second budget this year by Australia's chief economists.

The Australian Business Economists' annual post-budget lunch, at which the Treasury secretary traditionally delivers a presentation on the budget and the economic outlook for Australia, has been cancelled.

Treasurer Joe Hockey and Treasury secretary John Fraser. Credit:Andrew Meares

New Treasury secretary John Fraser – who was appointed by the Abbott government to replace Dr Martin Parkinson in January – broke a 20-year tradition last month by declining an invitation to speak at the traditional post-budget lunch.

He chose instead to speak at an unscripted Q&A-style event with John Daley from the Grattan Institute this Friday evening, with no set speech, and with no official transcript of the evening.