Abstract: Doing better, but we still need to sort out who is responsible for what and strengthen primary careand rural clinical schools, as well as retention incentives for rural doctors. The second leap resulted from the balance of power held by the two rural independents in 2010. Their agreement with the minority Labor government for regional development included investment of some $2.33 billion in rural and remote health infrastructure, including regional cancer centres. As ever, the political imperative was key.