The NSW Labor Party must first get its policies in shape before it focuses on such things as the abolition of factions, federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says.
NSW Labor's general secretary Sam Dastyari and former assistant general secretary Luke Foley have called on the party to rid itself of factions as it begins to rebuild after a crushing election defeat.
However Mr Burke, a key member of the NSW right faction, said debate about the party's internal structure could wait until it first sorts out what policy direction it wants to head.
"The most important thing is always that you get the policy right and there will always be argument ... about the structure of the party and the method by which we organise ourselves," he told reporters in Perth.
"But ultimately all that matters in a political party is that you get the policy; if you get the policy right then you're more likely to win support from the public."
Mr Burke added that unless the party engages in a policy debate then "we're missing the point".
Although newly sworn-in premier Barry O'Farrell campaigned against the federal government's proposed carbon tax, Mr Burke dismissed the notion the policy had influenced voters.
However he said all federal Labor members from NSW needed to take responsibility for the election defeat.
"When there's a vote like that I think simply by being a member of the Labor Party in NSW you're not immune," Mr Burke said.
"I work on the basis that we all take a level of responsibility and lets see how we can rebuild and re-earn the trust of the public."
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