Prime Minister Tony Abbot has issued a call to arms to state premiers to participate in a grown-up debate about reforming the Federation, the funding of health systems and the tax system in a Sir Henry Parkes commemorative address to be delivered on Saturday.

In a speech that will spark debate about how Australia's systems of government work with each other, Mr Abbott will argue that states including NSW, Victoria and West Australia that receive a lower share of the GST from the Commonwealth, need to receive a fair go.

Tony Abbott has issued a call to arms to state premiers to debate reforming the Federation. Credit:Andrew Meares

But, Mr Abbott will argue, any change in arrangements should not leave the smaller states such as Tasmania and South Australia worse off.

"It's basically about giving everyone 'a fair go' – but it has to be fair to the states making the financial contributions as well as to those receiving them, to those who give as well as those who receive. It should be possible to make these arrangements more equitable between the larger states with the smaller states no worse off," he says in an advance copy of the speech obtained by Fairfax Media.