Gonski bill shows ALP floundering in the dark JULIA Gillard, when education minister, argued that "evidence-based reform" would drive policy and, in relation to plans to overhaul school funding, that "evidence was going to play a big part in getting this project right." Gillard also said the process would be "open, thorough and balanced" and that nothing would improve unless "you work in co-operation with the state and territory levels of government."