It sounded like an odd approach to federal Health policy and we were confused at the time. The ABC’s Lateline had the story late last month:

TONY JONES: Meanwhile talks on the Commonwealth/state health funding agreement broke down today when federal Health Minister Tony Abbott declined to negotiate. Mr Abbott says he won’t negotiate a new deal before the federal election. But the states and the territories insist they can’t wait.

The minister made his intentions clear enough:

TONY ABBOTT: I don’t see any point in having this discussion when there is some question as to who is going to form a government. The important task at the present time is to get re-elected and that is where my energies are focused.

It would seem, on yesterday’s evidence, that he has managed to bring the Prime Minister to the same view.