Delaying Gonski reforms represents pragmatic political expediency

v) Relieves administrative pressure on union-backed schools minister Shorten to initiate pre-election attacks on workplace reforms by Mr Tony Abbott.

Mr Shorten will have more time to negotiate an acceptable funding outcome as he assumes 'attack dog' status against Mr Abbott by raising the bogey of Work Choices.

vi) Distances a future Rudd government from the fractured school funding implementation processes of Julia Gillard and Peter Garrett.

Behold the old regime is gone. Everything is new again.

vii) Illustrates the ALP's desire to maintain political power at any cost and without recourse.

The move makes clever political sense.

viii) Maintains a semblance of co-operative federalism by continuing dialogue with the states and territories over contentious issues with the Bill.

A federal Labor government can simply wear down recalcitrant states to ultimately accept their funding offer.

ix) Exemplifies the reality that education reform and school funding will perpetually remain a political football.

x) Delaying increased funding to schools in 2014-15 or beyond improves the federal budget and enhances the ALP's standing as responsible financial managers of the nation's economy.

Although the May budget allocated $473 million additional expenditure to schools any fiscal saving can only enhance the ALP's credentials as sound economic managers. Presumably current quadrennial funding conditions for the non-government sector will simply be extended for a designated period beyond 31 December 2013. Back to the future.

The Australian public should be abundantly clear regarding the Gonski report and its illegitimate offspring The Australian Education Bill.