South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has brushed off criticism from senior federal Labor figures over his conditional support for an increase in the GST, arguing he just wants a mature debate on a "demonised" taxation system.

Key points: The SA Premier says GST has been "demonised" and he just wants "mature debate"

The SA Premier says GST has been "demonised" and he just wants "mature debate" He has been criticised by senior Labor figures for backing an increase to the tax

He has been criticised by senior Labor figures for backing an increase to the tax Stephen Conroy challenges Mr Weatherill to test the idea's support via a state election

Mr Weatherill has faced stinging criticism from elements within his party for arguing he would support an increase in the GST to 15 per cent if the extra revenue was spent on health and education.

"We're not suggesting that any one idea is the solution, we're promoting our ideas," Mr Weatherill told 7:30.

"But we want to invite a mature debate about this, not a series of a slanging match or threats and other abuse that's hurled around the place.

"I've received plenty of critique from both sides of politics, but what I'm trying to do — and what [New South Wales Premier Mike] Baird is trying to do — is to level with the Australian people that we're not raising enough revenue to meet what they want us to do."

"That's why Premier Baird has a proposal, that's why I have a proposal," he said.

Mr Weatherill said there needed to be a "national debate" on taxation reform.

"And it may not be the right proposal — I'm not arrogant enough to think we have all the answers," he said.

"But it has to be a debate that starts with asking the right question."

Federal Labor remains staunchly opposed to any changes in the tax, with Senator Stephen Conroy arguing Mr Weatherill ran an anti-GST campaign in the 2014 state election, and South Australian voters should decide his fate.

"They would reject utterly Mr Weatherill if he was to campaign on increasing the GST," Senator Conroy told AM.

"If he is so convinced that this is the right solution — he is so convinced that increasing the GST is what he wants to fight an election on down the track, that he wants to be the father of the GST — well, then he should go to the South Australian people and hold an election and see what they think."

We've spent decades demonising taxation: Weatherill

Last week Mr Weatherill said while he welcomed Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's education funding announcement, he was yet to see any coherent or sustainable way in which that was going to be funded.

But the South Australian Premier was quick to point out the Coalition was not without fault when it came to the broader taxation debate.

"I believe in the intelligence of the Australian community," Mr Weatherill said.

"I believe that if the facts are put in front of them — and the facts need to be put in front of them not the misleading remarks that we're getting out of the federal Treasurer, who is suggesting that we've just simply got a spending problem and if we nip and tuck around the edges we're going to get there.

"We've spent decades basically demonising taxation, but taxation is the means by which we educate our children, we treat our sick people, we actually provide for a more equal and more humane society.

"We're going into bat for taxation to meet those needs, and we also need to do it fairly, and we're trying to get a national debate about that issue."