The three-senator and one MP Nick Xenophon Team has rejected the government’s $2.8bn higher education funding cuts, ensuring the legislation has failed. “Until there is a comprehensive review into post-secondary education, it would be wrong to support many of the cuts proposed by the government, including the move to reduce university funding, lowering the threshold for HELP repayments and increasing the student fee contribution,” NXT education spokesperson and member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie said yesterday.

The call for a review is consistent with Senator Xenophon’s position on the Pyne proposal to deregulate course costs in 2014-15, when he also proposed an inquiry.

Yesterday NXT ruled out:

cutting Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding for universities

reducing the student loan repayment threshold

a scholarship system for postgraduate coursework places

performance based funding for universities

student pay enabling courses

This less cuts than eviscerates Education Minister Simon Birmingham’s entire package and was quickly hailed as “a good day, a significant win for students and the sector” by a sector leader.