With the government languishing in the polls, some Liberals and Nationals MPs believe changes must be made to clear the decks and start 2015 with a clean slate. Here are 10 ways 'Captain Abbott' could do it:

1) Act on climate change

With the world now moving more decisively to address climate change next year, the government has found itself on the wrong side of public opinion, having mistaken antipathy towards the carbon tax for a broader public understanding of climate change.

There are signs Mr Abbott is repositioning, but nothing short of serious post-2020 emissions reduction targets and a method of getting to them will be convincing.

2) Restore renewable energy policy

The government should agree to a sensible compromise on renewable energy, having failed in its efforts to dramatically wind back the target after appointing known climate sceptic Dick Warburton to review it. The industry relies on bipartisan support for the scheme to function.

The government could agree to a modest winding back of the target to a figure that is achievable for the industry and does not destroy it.

3) Have a cabinet reshuffle

Promote some high achievers, demote under-performers and, above all, address the appalling lack of women on the frontbench for a fresh team approach in 2015.

It's a no-brainer.

4) Allow a conscience vote on same-sex marriage

Polling shows more than 70 per cent of Australians support marriage reform, while nearly 80 per cent favour the granting of a conscience vote in the Coalition.

A bill is now before the Parliament, setting up 2015 as an opportunity for the government to catch up with public opinion.

5) Abandon the deregulation of university fees

The government's bid to deregulate university fees remains very unpopular and doomed in Parliament. Concerns about the impact larger debts would have on students from lower and middle income backgrounds have found traction, while the government's arguments – the sector's need for more funding, new needs-based scholarships and universities' support for the reforms – have failed to take hold.

Earlier this month, a Fairfax-Ipsos poll found 64 per cent of Australians oppose deregulation, with just 28 per cent in support.

6) Dump the paid parental leave scheme

Mr Abbott's flagship scheme continues to face an uncertain future. The scheme would pay women 26 weeks' salary at their full wage, capped at $50,000, and funded by a 1.5 per cent tax on large companies. Critics have argued that the money would be better spent on childcare and that we already have an adequate paid parental leave scheme. A lack of support in the parliament, among the public and even inside the PM's own party have led to it being watered down and temporarily shelved.

The scheme remains a policy that doesn't seem worth burning political capital on - let alone $5.5 billion.

7) Revise the government's communications strategy

Since the poor sales pitch for its budget in May, the government has been hounded by concerns within its own party room about how it communicates policies with voters. That perception has not been aided by what one MP described as the Mr Abbott's "verbal gymnastics" to avoid admitting cuts to the ABC and the SBS represent a broken promise.

Coalition MPs and a public disillusioned by political spin would welcome some straight talk.

8) Ditch the $7 GP co-payment

The proposed fee on visits to the doctor appears dead in the water. It remains one of the most controversial measures announced by the government, suffering from a stubborn lack of support among the public. The idea is to drive down the number of visits and therefore reduce pressure on the health budget.

However, it has given the opposition easy fodder to attack the government on the inequality front and argue that Mr Abbott's team is undermining the concept of universal healthcare.

9) Review the proposed welfare overhaul 

Proposed changes, including the lowering indexation for pensions and making young people wait six months for the dole, are being blocked by the opposition and crossbench for being too harsh.

The savings involved in restricting access to the dole are not huge, which could limit the hit to the budget should this budget measure be dropped.

10) Reconsider budget cuts to the ABC and SBS

The PM has taken a political hit over his election-eve promise not to cut funding to the public broadcasters. Hundreds of protesters marched on Parliament this week and signalled a national campaign against the cuts will continue.

If the PM is looking to drop one or two unpopular budget measures by Christmas, he could consider whether the the financial gain from ABC and SBS cuts is worth the political pain.

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