Australia's new $9.6 billion infrastructure injection won't drive inflation, the Albanese government says as it prepares to hand down its first budget.
Responsible investments rather than waste and rorts, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says, will get Australia's bottom line back on track.
The federal government will pump money into rail and road schemes, including $2.2 billon backing Victoria's Suburban Rail Link.
But Senator Gallagher says the huge investment won't contribute to inflationary pressures as Australia's rate continues to hit record highs.
"There is some additional money going in, in line with our election commitments ... we're not going to be adding to inflation through this program. We are managing it responsibly," she told Sky News on Sunday.
"Through the budget more broadly, we have been looking for savings through that audit."
Asked if the government would cull regional support packages the Nationals secured as part of their lengthy negotiations to support net-zero emissions by 2050, Senator Gallagher said no individual program was being targeted.
"If it stacks up we're pretty supportive, but there are areas where we've got to reduce spending and reallocate in the budget. We're looking at that across the board," she said.
"We are genuinely looking to rebalance the budget and make sure every dollar spent is going into something that's needed and also something that's going to deliver an economic dividend."
Opposition MP Ted O'Brien said any funding cuts to regional areas were indicative of the government's attitude towards them.
"The Labor government has a track record of ignoring the regions ... we'll be watching out for that," he told Sky News.
"It probably won't surprise some people but this is what they do - Labor's back, so are taxes and so are the regions being ignored."
Mr O'Brien was also asked about his push to put nuclear energy on the agenda as the government seeks to address rising prices.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared to mock that nuclear push at the NSW Labor conference on Saturday.
"The prime minister can make as much fun as he likes but Australian households are struggling right now, their power bills are going up, they're not laughing," Mr O'Brien said.
"In the real economy, people are hurting and he promised people ... they would reduce power bills to the tune of $275 for households, but what we've seen is power prices skyrocketing."
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver the budget on October 25.
