The elimination of one level of government (preferably states), the urgent creation of a national integrity commission, a genuine commitment to honesty, integrity and transparency, full support of the ABC as an independent public broadcaster, communication with China and the immediate end of water trading also made the list.

Looking first at tax reform, two analysts supported the meaningful package proposed by economist and public servant Ken Henry in 2009. One reminded us that at the time of the GST, there was work done that showed a single tax of 0.5 per cent on bank withdrawals would raise three times more than the plethora of other taxes.

Another wrote: "The franking credit policy of the last ALP leader Bill Shorten was poorly thought out and poorly sold to the electorate and was only a miniscule part of the overall tax system (anyway)," adding there would not be any need to bribe low-income earners with such fanciful tax policy as that introduced by John Howard or for the next ALP leader to react in the same knee-jerk manner as Shorten did.

One of our panel urged ALP leader Anthony Albanese, and his party to reform unionism, which is down 35 per cent since its heyday era of the 70s, for which there are several reasons.

He listed: "Union bashing by big business and the conservative parties, (and I would add, News Limited's extreme right newspapers); the dramatic decline in our manufacturing industry and the subsequent loss of jobs; a dramatic increase in the creation of part-time jobs and a casual work force and, to a certain extent, corruption within the union movement itself.

"Future work forces will be different, but will still need to be protected and provided with safe and healthy work environments.

"However, the practice of automatically sourcing future potential parliamentarians from the union movement must stop and union funding of political parties along with other corporate funding, needs to be abolished or restricted."

The issue of leadership was now being raised week in, week out, our contacts suggest.

One wrote: "There is significant support from the electorate at large for someone who will show real leadership (a la Paul Keating) and address the big issues.

Imagine if the ALP, or a new party, espoused a limit to the number of consecutive terms for political representatives and no perks after their terms finish - look at the farce with Tony Abbott and Britain. Surely he can't continue to receive his parliamentary pension."

An analyst with experience in tertiary education and the military urged the ALP to put the following policies for the next election very soon: "Emphasis on energy policy about transition to renewables and out with coal and gas which are high emitters of greenhouse gases; affordable housing particularly for young and disadvantaged people who are finding city house prices too high and Indigenous reconciliation with better education opportunities for Indigenous children to create employment pathways."

Aged care is high on the analysts' lists. They say staff salaries need to be increased and qualifications upgraded to improve the standard of care.

With the Nationals in disarray, there has never been a better time for the ALP and, in particular, some of its smart, younger MPs to put forward policies to sustain regional development and what one called "re-decentralisation".

"Sydney has choked itself to death. The smart money is starting to see the wisdom of moving west."

Another said: "Financial incentives like reduced company tax for them to relocate to regions and create jobs to create employment in regional/towns/cities."

Another concern analysts reported was to nationalise health and education with a build-up of the national public service: "The more that is moved from the state jurisdiction, the better will be the argument to abolish the states and inherent within this, TAFE and relevant apprentice needs to be resurrected."

Finally, this contribution from a retired small businessman: "We need a beneficial dictator, someone who earns our respect, takes the hard decisions for the 'common good', knows his/her shelf life is a maximum eight years, not a continuance of election cycles and is beyond reproach as a person of unimpeachable integrity."