All the talk in political circles this week has been about how to manage the future economy - about increasing productivity and the reform agenda.
Less discussed is how unlikely we are to see any major economic reforms in the near future.
The government's remaining time in office will be taken up implementing its current program and just surviving; recent battles have left the caucus with little appetite for the difficult grind of new reform, and Gillard is in no position to insist. The Opposition, following form, would likely fight any new reform proposals. And if/when they achieve government, they have promised to spend much of their first year of government unwinding recent measures.
Major modern reforms in Australian have largely been carried out by leaders who could communicate the importance of the change, and build a case for bipartisan support and industry acceptance, often in the face of popular resentment. At the moment it seems we have only the resentment.