Labor's Left faction is pushing for a national debate on the size of government, with calls for higher taxes rather than cuts to spending to return the budget to balance.

The Left will introduce a resolution at this weekend's NSW Labor conference noting that Commonwealth revenue has fallen over the past decade - from 25.6 per cent of gross domestic product to 23.6 per cent - and the Rudd and Gillard governments kept the tax to spending ratio lower than John Howard when in office.

"We think that current tax to GDP ratio is about right, and that it's important that that be maintained.": Chris Bowen. Credit:Getty Images

The resolution asserts that: ''In order for Labor to deliver on the community's aspirations for role of government, the revenue to GDP ratio may need to rise.''

The push by the NSW Left will be a forerunner to a showdown on the size of government at the national conference next year.