Mr Barr said he was "particularly focused" on the opportunities that would come from both the federal and NSW state elections next year, when asked about his priorities for 2019 on ABC Radio on Wednesday morning.

He said he'll use the campaigns to secure funding promises to help improve the Sydney to Canberra rail corridor, but also flagged his hopes for what a federal Labor government might do for the capital.

"There will be opportunities if there's a federal Labor government elected to boost the Commonwealth share of health funding which will enable us to do more in our health system, clearly there's a strong commitment to investing in the TAFE sector which will enable us to fast-track our modernisation of the Canberra Institute of Technology," Mr Barr said.

"We’re also clearly focused on what a change of government might mean in terms of … our national cultural institutions but I guess Canberra itself and a return to its status as the national capital, not the place that politicians fly in and fly out of. It would be nice to have a prime minister who lived at The Lodge, it would be nice if the National Capital were recognised for the role we are here to play."

Asked about his own future in politics and how much longer he wanted to stay in the game, Mr Barr said he had been "inspired and motivated" by the last three days of the Labor conference in Adelaide.

"It’s a fantastic agenda to want to implement and to play a part of and the states and territories will have a significant role in that," Mr Barr said.

"I guess the most honest answer I can give you ... is a Labor victory federally next year will give me plenty to work on over the rest of this parliamentary term and into the future.

"Were Labor not to win federally we would see another continuation of this current government's policy settings. That’s a much harder task for the states and territories."

Mr Barr said a Coalition victory would not make him reassess his short-term future as chief minister, but his longevity in the role "really hinges on being able to get things done".

"That’s been a real focus for me in the four years I’ve been chief minister, I recognise not everyone will agree on every element of the agenda I’m putting forward but I think even my harshest critics would recognise that I have an agenda and I’m getting on with implementing it," Mr Barr said.

Mr Barr's comments may put an end to speculation he planned to quit before the parliamentary term was over in order to hand the role of chief minister onto deputy Yvette Berry or health minister Meegan Fitzharris.

The Barr government recently passed the halfway mark of its four-year term.

A recent report on Labor's power-sharing agreement with the Greens showed while several big-ticket items have been achieved so far - including introducing laws to cut the number of poker machines in the city to 4000 and creating a new integrity commission - there's still a way to go.

Items including the recruitment of 20 school psychologists, the construction of a new $12 million indigenous health centre, and the implementation of a promised nurse safety strategy remain on track.