Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called on his coalition colleagues to step up their defence of the budget.
The government has faced public demonstrations, angry talkback callers and a drop in opinion poll support since the release of its first budget last week.
Coalition MPs have also publicly and privately expressed concerns about aspects of it.
Mr Abbott said it had been an "interesting week" but insisted the budget was a good one.
"It is the job of every coalition member and senator to level with the Australian people and listen to them," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
Businessman Tony Shepherd, whose national audit helped pave the way for the budget, said all Australians should look at the big picture and put aside sectional interests.
"People will protect their sectional interest ... but I wish people could also stand back and look at the overall picture of the Commonwealth budget, rather than say, 'Don't touch me'," he said.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said Mr Shepherd's comments were ironic given the government had contracted out budget planning to the top end of town.
"Tony Shepherd and myself ... people on relatively high incomes, aren't taking the hit," Mr Albanese told Sky News.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has again hinted that Labor will support the temporary deficit levy on high income earners.
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