Labor confident reform won't be delayed

Labor figures are confident the party's fall from power in Victoria, and expected
defeat in NSW next year, won't put the brakes on Prime Minister Julia Gillard's
national reform agenda.
The Gillard government needs the support of the states to rollout reforms in the
areas of health, education, fixing the Murray-Darling river system and the national
broadband network.
Victorian premier-elect Ted Baillieu, who toppled Labor's John Brumby at the
weekend, has thrown a spanner in the works, saying he would take a fresh look at
education and health deals.
Earlier this year, the states - apart from WA's conservative government - agreed to
hand over a third of their GST payments for the federal government to take
responsibility for 60 per cent of the cost of running, staffing and building public
hospitals.
It would also deliver $7.4 billion in funding for extra hospital beds, support for
GPs, boost aged-care services and train more doctors and nurses.
The Senate in 2011 will vote on laws underpinning the agreement, after the bill
passed the lower house last week, and it will then be up to the states to sign
individual agreements.
Mr Baillieu told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday he would review the deal.
"We will be commencing discussions with the federal government ... and if necessary
we will be seeking to renegotiate the agreement," he said.
The prime minister on Monday said it was "simple maths" that the cost of health
services would outstrip the states' revenues within four decades, and there was a
role for the federal government.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon on Tuesday told reporters it was a good deal.
"I'm very confident when we explain the billions of dollars of extra investment that
come into the Victorian health system that it will be attractive," she said.
"But ultimately that is a matter for the new Victorian government, and I look
forward to working with them on it."
Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson said it was possible to work with coalition
governments.
"It's not necessarily the colour of the political persuasion - I think it's the
attitude of the leader," he said.
Mr Baillieu said he planned also to talk with Ms Gillard about education.
Victoria's coalition deputy leader Peter Ryan said he wanted to ensure the state's
regions did not miss out on the advantages of the $36 billion national broadband
network.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott told reporters in Adelaide the Gillard government was
already failing to deliver on its promises, even before the state problems emerged.
"The Gillard government is very good at announcements but it's very poor at actually
making a difference," Mr Abbott said.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally said she feared the health agreement "could come undone".
Ms Keneally said the agreement would progress best if as many states as possible
supported it.