Arrium holds out hope of fed support

Arrium's administrators aren't too worried that the struggling steel and mining group has been sidestepped in the federal budget, saying it doesn't necessarily mean Canberra won't offer support down the track.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison says the company's Whyalla steelworks doesn't need a cash splash.

He also says putting $50 billion towards a 1280km section of rail line between Tarcoola and West Kalgoorlie is the most practical thing the government could have done for Arrium.

But KordaMentha administrators take Canberra's previous commitments to do what it can seriously.

"We know things can't be conjured up overnight and the budget really was locked up very early in the administration," spokesman Mike Smith told AAP on Wednesday.

"Just because there's nothing specific in the budget doesn't mean there may not be something down the track.

"But what the exact nature of that is, it's probably too early to say."

Mr Morrison said Whyalla didn't need a treasurer "to get up at a budget and splash a whole lot of money around and put up taxes to try and pay for it ".

The SA government hasn't yet spelled out what it will do to directly support Arrium but continues to ask for co-investment in the steelworks before the federal election, expected on July 2.