Responding to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's call for the Senate to pass the budget ‘in its entirety', Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that conversation, not confrontation, would be the Prime Minister's best tack.

"The key role of the Senate is to review and improve the government's legislation, not least the annual budget.

"Mr Rudd may prefer an election to an improved budget outcome, but the people won't," Senator Brown said.

"I don't think Mr Rudd means that his Treasurer is perfect. I do think that Senate Estimates committees and the input of business union and non-government organisations will come up with worthwhile ideas for tweaking the budget," Senator Brown said.