South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill doubts Labor will start gagging premiers from advocating what they believe is in the best interest of their states.
Mr Weatherill was responding to comments by fellow South Australian and federal Labor MP Nick Champion who has slammed the premier for supporting the idea of an increase in the GST.
Mr Champion suggests the ALP national executive should bind all members across the country to oppose an increase.
"Australians deserve a crystal clear choice at the next election and Labor should be united against the Liberals' long desire for a 15 per cent GST," he wrote in The Australian on Wednesday.
But Mr Weatherill said he would be surprised if his party "gagged" him on the issue as it would be turning its back on its democratic traditions.
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"I think that would be an unusual step and I think it's unlikely to happen," he told ABC radio.
He said what he had put on the table were the problem of state health and education funding and a potential solution to it.
"If it's not the right solution, let's hear our national leaders, both Labor and Liberal, come up with an alternative set of ideas," the premier said.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said he was confident that state Labor leaders will support the party's policies when it comes to funding and how they are paid for.
