GST changes are tax shifting: Greens

Debate over increasing the GST is not about tax reform but tax shifting, federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale says.

Senator Di Natale says the federal government wants to shift the burden away from people on higher incomes, who currently pay more income tax, towards people on low incomes who can least afford it.

He says the GST remains a regressive tax and will impact worst on the most vulnerable.

"This is tax shifting, it is not tax reform," the senator told the Greens national conference in Adelaide on Saturday.

He also urged the major parties to stop taking about health and education as a burden on the budget and consider them investments in the nation's future.

"By investing in health it allows us to live longer, healthier and more productive lives," he said.

"It's the whole point of having a growing economy."

Senator Di Natale said he believed the Australian people would embrace the Greens' philosophy of having a fairer tax system along with continued investment in health and education.

"I know where the Australian community stand on those issues," he said.