The question of the size of the plan to save the Murray-Darling system is at the heart of my shuttle diplomacy this week with the states.
As I said this morning, I'm not confident of reaching agreement with each of the states during my discussions this week.
"My job is to be the alternative prime minister of the country, that means having some disagreements with my good friend Mike (Rann) here or Peter Beattie in my own state of Queensland, I'm prepared to do that."
"But what I'm trying to do this week is to be as positive and constructive as possible in narrowing the gap which currently exists between the states and Canberra."
"At this stage of the process I'm not that confident that I'm going to get there because there are significant differences, particularly in Victoria but elsewhere as well, on what can be best achieved with the Prime Minister's proposal."
If John Howard wants to spend up to $1 billion in annual funding without cabinet approval, then such a "massive undertaking" raises questions about the "adequacy of funding on offer".
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