Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she had responded ''positively'' to the seven-point plan presented by Independent MPs Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor.

Both leaders agreed to a litany of requests ranging from a timetable to reform political donations to a commitment to serve a full term. The latter means Australians will not head back to the ballot box until August 2013.

But Mr Abbott baulked at the trio's request for advice from Treasury and Finance departmental heads on the costings and budget impacts of the major parties' election promises.

''It is very difficult for the public service to understand Coalition policy with the same depth as government policy,'' Mr Abbott said.

Ms Gillard was ''predisposed'' to providing the information but had to seek advice to see if it required changes to the caretaker conventions.

It came after Mr Windsor urged the leaders to display goodwill in the negotiations expected to begin in earnest next week.

''If there is not goodwill displayed by both leaders and their party members, and if we can't see a future in terms of some longevity in terms of the parliament itself from one government or the other, I won't support either of them,'' he said.

''So there is a third option and that's another poll.''

For more on this story, including details of Mr Abbott's response to the request for a Treasury analysis of his plans, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.