Crikey

Kristina Keneally has become the golden girl of Australian politics in the last few days after the importance of her negiotating become clear in cinching the national health reform deal. As Simon Benson reported in yesterday’s Daily Tele:

Ms Keneally led the negotiations.

After the enormous success of the Crikey twitter competition #KKAvatarhairday (winners to be announced in today’s email), it seems only one question remains, is Kristina Keneally our new Powerfox?

Here’s what the pundits are saying.

The Daily Telegraph

Premier Keneally basking in victory

Premier Kristina Keneally returned to Sydney yesterday looking like the cat that got the cream…

The Sydney Morning Herald

Andrew Clennell and Louise Hall: It’s only been four months, but Kristina’s now Kevin’s best mate

Ms Keneally, an avid cyclist, is said to have told her aides during the negotiation process that she was riding behind the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, as a professional cyclist would, using him to do the hard yards in setting up a negotiating position before cycling past him in the final cycling straight.

Phillip Coorey: Keneally comes out trumps after helping to broker deal

Ms Keneally got everything else she asked for.

The Australian

Imre Salusinszky: Kristina Keneally and her brilliant career

For NSW’s charismatic young Premier, the health reform debate has provided the perfect platform for her entry on to the national political stage.