Malcolm Turnbull says the states can't keep "using the federal government like an ATM" to get money for infrastructure projects.

The prime minister's comments come as the Queensland government continues to lobby Mr Turnbull to match its $850 million commitment to start work on Brisbane's Cross River Rail project.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Mr Turnbull repeated his concerns about the business case for the project, despite one being delivered by the state Labor government late last year.

"We need to get better value out of our infrastructure investment than we have in the past," the prime minister said in Brisbane on Wednesday.