Political gain behind budget stance: Ciobo

Federal MP Steve Ciobo has suggested state premiers are opposing cuts in the federal budget for political gain.

State and territory leaders called for a Council of Australian Governments meeting to discuss $80 billion in health and education funding cuts after an emergency summit in Sydney on Sunday.

Mr Ciobo, who is the parliamentary secretary to the treasurer, can't understand why they're complaining because he says in net terms the states will actually be better off.

But he pointed out that some premiers are in the lead-up to elections.

"So we understand why some of them are taking the positions they are taking," Mr Ciobo told reporters.

"If state premiers are going to be fair with their constituents, they need to highlight a lot of the pluses that flow from the federal budget."

When asked if state premiers were twisting the truth, lying or just didn't understand the budget, Mr Ciobo simply said they "had a job to do".