Former Labor leader Bill Shorten and deputy ALP leader Richard Marles are among the potential beneficiaries of a Labor power shake-up, after Victoria's right faction was blown up by the resignation of a third Victorian minister and allegations of industrial-scale branch stacking were referred to police.

Labor insiders said the dramatic intervention by the ALP’s national executive was expected to shift power within the Victorian Labor Party from Spring Street in Victoria to Canberra and the 20 voting members of ALP's national executive presided over by Wayne Swan.