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July 12th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
The Federal Government expects to know within the next two weeks if Queensland will sign up to the Better Schools plan.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Federal Education Minister Bill Shorten and Queensland’s Premier, Campbell Newman, were involved in talks about the education plan today.
Mr Newman said the discussions were positive, but he has not yet signed up to the plan.
“My overall reflection was very positive, a very positive meeting,” he said.
“Indeed, we were not being afforded that sort of opportunity for dialogue with the senior levels of the Gillard government.
“I’ll call a spade a spade and say it was quite a refreshing change in approach from the Federal Government.”
When Mr Rudd became Prime Minister last month, he extended the deadline for jurisdictions to agree to the plan by a fortnight, which means the offers would have expired this weekend.
Mr Shorten has now given Queensland another extension of between one and two weeks and says he expects to “strike a constructive arrangement” with Mr Newman.
A spokeswoman for Mr Shorten confirmed that he was prepared to extend the sign-up deadline for jurisdictions engaged in constructive discussions with the Federal Government.
The Federal Government has offered Queensland $3.7 billion if it agrees to the plan.
Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are the other states yet to sign up.
The Federal Government hopes to strike a deal with Victoria by the end of next week after extending the state’s deadline.
Western Australia has not asked for an extension, but Mr Shorten’s spokeswoman says constructive talks were held with the WA’s Education Minister on Wednesday.
She says discussions with the Northern Territory are ongoing.
Topics:
federal—state-issues,
government-and-politics,
education,
australia,
qld
First posted
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-12/federal-government-extends-qld-deadline-for-education-reform/4817420
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