Premier Daniel Andrews has urged the prime minister to give Victorians what they deserve in Tuesday's federal budget.
Mr Andrews is seeking $1.45 billion to spend on a regional rail revamp that was set out in Victoria's state budget.
Labor's "Regional Rail Revival" projects will mainly be built in safe coalition seats, but to go ahead it needs Canberra to hand over some disputed cash.
Victoria says it's due $1.45 billion as a bonus payment for selling the Port of Melbourne lease under former treasurer Joe Hockey's asset recycling program.
But Canberra only wants to hand over $877 million, arguing the state government didn't send a letter in time to get the rest.
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Mr Andrews hopes he and Mr Turnbull can put their differences aside and deliver regional Victorians these "fantastic projects".
"I certainly hope is that we don't continue to bicker, that we don't argue about these matters," the premier said on Sunday.
"With the greatest of respect, I would simply ask the prime minister to acknowledge that the money doesn't belong to me, and the money doesn't belong to him.
"The money belongs to Victorians. And these are fantastic projects. They're just so good."
Federal Infrastructure and Tranpsort Minister Darren Chester last week said the state missed the deadline for the funds and that he hadn't seen business cases for the rail projects, describing them as a "Santa wish list".
