The federal government is confident of another win on schools funding with the National Catholic Education Commission to endorse the new model within days.
But Education Minister Bill Shorten is perplexed by an attack from his Queensland counterpart, less than a week after joint talks ended in smiles.
Mr Shorten said the federal government was still negotiating constructively with Victoria and Queensland to get them on board the $14.5 billion Better Schools plan.
"We've still got more details to go in Victoria," Shorten told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday, adding he had no doubt about Premier Denis Napthine's interest in securing "a great deal".
The commonwealth was also having "exceedingly good" talks with the Catholic authority, he said.
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The commission still needed to seek instruction from its state counterparts before endorsing the plan.
"I'm confident that we should be able to close a deal ... in the next few days but there is still some t's to be crossed and i's to be dotted," Mr Shorten said.
However, Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek threw a spanner in the works on Thursday morning, telling ABC radio there was no point in further negotiations and calling Prime Minister Kevin Rudd a charlatan.
The prime minister on Wednesday repeated calls for Queensland to stop playing politics and get on board.
"Bill Shorten can come on to your show with his velvet tones and try to make out that he's offering us a lot more and that he wants to sit down and talk, while his boss is out there slagging us in a press conference," Mr Langbroek said.
Mr Shorten has conceded there appeared to be "some scratchiness" in negotiations.
He has offered to fly to Queensland to meet with the minister and premier.
"In the politest and gentlest possible way (I) say to them, when you've got another level of government offering to provide two extra dollars for every extra dollar that you invest in children's education in Queensland, this is a good deal."
Mr Shorten reiterated the federal government had no interest in taking over the running of schools in any state.
