Former West Australian premier Colin Barnett says Canberra is increasingly failing to respect the constitution and is leaving voters confused about who is responsible for services after Tuesday's budget in which the Morrison government's $100 billion infrastructure package spread into projects traditionally left to the states.

Despite its status as the nation's pre-eminent financial blueprint, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's first budget had a Macquarie Street or Spring Street feel to it, with its heavy emphasis on infrastructure.