WHILE Labor politicians and officials were watching the latest episode of the party's long-running Nightmare Series unfold in Western Australia on Saturday, Bob Hawke was basking in the glory of a reunion in Canberra.

Hawke, the ALP's longest-serving prime minister who never lost an election, was the star turn at a gathering of staffers and journalists who worked those nine years of his time in the top job.

The striking thing about Hawke's speech was it didn't dwell on the good old days.

Hawke laid out his story of 1983 to 1991 with typical clarity - explaining the problem his government inherited and how they tackled the momentous challenges.

He also pinpointed a central problem of the present broken system of politics and government - that Parliament is held in low regard.

Hawke said the contempt for national politics had to be tackled urgently. He proposed breaking down the way parties approached agendas by having one set of issues that fit neatly with Labor or the Coalition and bigger, more contentious matters handled in a new way.

Hawke said these challenges wouldn't go to party rooms but to parliament to be thrashed out and voted on without politicians bound by pre-determined positions.

It might sound idealistic and unachievable but the problem is one that won't be solved by business as usual.

As well as hearing an agile and searching mind (in an 83-year-old head), Hawke's approach was like a fresh breeze - clean and invigorating.

The was no indulgence in the past or the present, no point scoring and no talk of class or other kind of warfare.

Hawke spoke of bringing a nation together and tackling problems using facts and reason. Imagine that.

Meanwhile, in the west, Labor was telling itself it ran a great campaign, had a great leader in Mark McGowan, had fabulous policies and was in touch with the voters.

Too bad they lost almost half of Labor's seats.

This denial is getting Labor nowhere except deeper into that mire of contempt Hawke highlighted - just as avoiding the dead weight the Gillard Government was on WA Labor won't solve the problems in Canberra.

As Gillard searches for ways to escape the current nightmare, Hawke's approach should be considered - honest, straight talk and some ideas tapping into the Australian story.

Originally published as There's a wise head on old shoulders