A war of words between big business and the Morrison government is intensifying, with Qantas boss Alan Joyce vowing to speak up on contentious issues after the prime minister's right-hand man told industry leaders the Coalition did not "represent corporate Australia".

The government has endured a fortnight of internal unrest over what some MPs claim is an anti-free market policy agenda that has included open attacks on the social and environmental stances taken by major firms.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce says businesses that don't speak up will hurt their bottom line and fail to attract quality staff. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Ben Morton, used an address to the Business Council of Australia on Wednesday to make clear the government was putting the lives of Australians ahead of what the nation's corporate leaders wanted.

He said instead of listening to "armchair activists" and "shock troops", such as GetUp, business should get on with looking after the needs of "quiet Australians".