A republic, a charter of rights and revamping federation are among the five big ideas decided by delegates in the governance session of the Australia 2020 summit.
But the session ended in confusion with many delegates unsure of what they were actually voting on.
After coming up with their five ideas, session organisers then started taking votes on specific policies, including a controversial proposal to ban third party political campaigns such as last year's union-sponsored anti-Work Choices blitz.
Three were agreed to - recognising indigenous Australians in the constitutional preamble, a national cooperation commission to ensure state and federal governments work together, and automatic enrolment to vote at the age of 18.
The results - 90 votes for the preamble, 65 for the commission and 60 for automatic enrolment - were scrawled on a piece of butchers paper.
The rushed vote left many in the room confused about what they had just agreed to.
After caucusing with nearby summiteers, journalist and summit delegate David Marr grabbed the microphone.
"Can I be absolutely anarchic and ask for a vote in this room - who supports Australia becoming a republic?" he asked.
When every delegate raised their hand, he pointed to the paper.
"Well, it's not on that list," he said.
"Can somebody tell us what our big ideas are?"
The five big ideas were the republic, a charter or bill of rights, collaborative governance, a modern Australian federation and open and transparent government.
The final group discussions of the two-day summit wrapped up at 12.30pm (AEST).
All 10 groups will report their recommendations to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and summit co-chair Glyn Davis in a 90-minute closing session on Sunday afternoon.
The 10 streams were asked to come up with at least one big idea and three concrete policies, one of which must involve no or negligible cost.
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