Big businesses need to step up and explain their worth to the Australian community, according to federal Treasurer Scott Morrison.

Mr Morrison suggested the big end of town had a "reputation" issue with the general public, and executives needed to play their part in explaining the benefits they bring in terms of employment and investment to the nation's economy.

The Treasurer highlighted what he described as the success of the Coalition's economic plan, boosted by the passage of some of its company tax cuts.

But Labor has criticised Mr Morrison, arguing he is demanding big business do his job in selling the merits of government policy.

"Large business representatives, there is a strong need for them to address the broader collective — and I stress 'collective' — reputation issues that large businesses have with the Australian public," Mr Morrison said in a speech to a financial conference in Sydney.

"These perceptions are being cynically exploited by an opportunistic Labor Party.

"Large business needs to apply itself collectively and urgently to this task of communicating their value, not about necessarily even advocating particular measures, and not for the sake of the Government, not for any partisan interest, but to do so in the interests of the Australian economy."

The Federal Opposition remained unconvinced, questioning Mr Morrison's ability and tenure as Treasurer.

Opposition spokesman for finance Jim Chalmers said it was up to the Government to explain the need for company tax cuts, not the sector.

"We have a Treasurer who is so substantially reduced and diminished that he's resorted to begging the big business in this country to do his job for him," he said.

"If he's unable to do his own job, he should get out of the way and let somebody else do that job instead."

Mr Morrison is in the final stages of preparing this year's budget, due to be presented on the second Tuesday of May.