Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has declared he is not "wedded ideologically" to the government's controversial dole and pension budget measures and says he does not want to be "combative" in his new portfolio, a move that flags a more pragmatic approach to families and welfare policy for the Coalition.

In an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media, Mr Morrison stepped back from the tough "lifters not leaners" rhetoric of the Coalition's 2014 budget, instead talking of the need to inspire young people and get them to "engage" with the workforce.

Social Services Minister Scott Morrison in his office at Parliament House. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"That really is my pitch to the country," he said. "Australia is something that you get involved with."

Mr Morrison, who took on the massive social services portfolio in a move that surprised political insiders in December, has responsibility for developing the Coalition's "families package", a review of the welfare system and key budget measures that are stuck in the Senate - including a six-month wait before young unemployed people get the dole, an increase in the pension age and a decrease in pension indexation.