Govt confident of uni reform: crossbench

As federal parliament enters its final week, crossbench senators are working with the government to resolve a deadlock on university changes.

The federal government is confident it has the numbers to pass higher education changes, despite failing to win over the support of outspoken senator Jacqui Lambie.

The bill, which passed the lower house in September, has been listed as the first piece of business for the final sitting week of the Senate for 2014.

Senator Leyonhjelm says over the past week Education Minister Christopher Pyne had been "strenuously lobbying" both him and five other crossbench senators needed to pass the changes.

"He's pretty confident he's got the numbers," Senator Leyonhjelm told Sky News on Sunday.

However the government is struggling to win over the support of Senator Lambie, who has previously vowed to vote against all government legislation until Defence personnel get a fair pay rise.

"It's all or nothing on the ADF pay deal. I'm not going to take any prisoners," she said on Sunday.


Share
Published 1 December 2014 3:30am
Updated 1 December 2014 3:34am


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world