Cabinet documents released today show the Labor government led by Bob Hawke considered a carbon tax as a way of combating climate change.

Key points: Cabinet documents from 1991 mention carbon tax based on "all greenhouse gas emissions"

Cabinet documents from 1991 mention carbon tax based on "all greenhouse gas emissions" Ideas rejected because of lack of information about effects on economy

Ideas rejected because of lack of information about effects on economy To introduce mandatory detention, new visa class denying refugees recognition

A cabinet submission from 1991 mentions a "carbon tax for energy use" as well as a "carbon tax-type" tax based on "all greenhouse gas emissions, for all source activities, including industry, energy, agriculture, transport".

The ideas, along with other schemes designed to curb carbon emissions through government incentives, were rejected because of a lack of information about their effects on the economy, which was then in a year-long recession.

The documents also reveal detailed policy plans to introduce detention of asylum seekers, and the introduction of a new visa class that would deny refugees automatic protection in Australia.

Paul Keating — who deposed Mr Hawke as prime minister — introduced mandatory detention in 1992.

John Howard introduced temporary protection visas almost a decade later.

Then-immigration minister Gerry Hand argued in 1991 the courts had become too lenient in the treatment of asylum claims, providing a strong incentive for boat people from Cambodia to try and land in Australia.

In echoes of later arguments, his Cabinet submission attests many claiming refugee status were doing so on economic grounds and that mandatory detention would help provide a deterrent.

The National Archives will release cabinet papers from Paul Keating's first two years as prime minister next year.

Hawke 'could have won' another term

Appearing on ABC News 24, Mr Hawke said he could have won a fifth election.

"Well, he [Mr Keating] won the election and good luck to him on that, but of course I believe I could have won," Mr Hawke said.

"I'd beaten every Liberal leader they'd put up and the Goods and Services Tax was anathema at that stage."

The 86-year-old former ACTU boss also shared his thoughts on the increasingly regular changes of leadership in the nation's top job.

"Obviously the Australian electorate is not happy about the frequency of the change, but it's going to reflect the realities that exist at any time," he said.

"If the [Labor] Caucus or the Coalition partyroom come to the view that they're more likely to do better with someone else, then basically self-interest will determine that is the decision they take."

When asked to share some advice with Mr Turnbull — who is currently facing a "similar economic picture" to that of the Hawke government in its latter years — Mr Hawke was coy.

"I'm not here to tell Malcolm how to run his business," he said.