The Australian Greens have expressed concern for the thousands of South Australian families who will be disadvantaged by the government's decision to delay the implementation of childcare reforms by one year, as revealed in the May Budget.

While the government's childcare package still has to be improved, it was set to save average families $30 a week and be introduced in 2017. With 57,620 South Australian families accessing childcare, the one year delay in rolling out the reforms represents a potential $87.582 million hit on family budgets.

The Greens are calling on Labor candidates in the Illawarra to protect local TAFEs and restore the public TAFE system by backing the demand for the National Partnership Agreement to be rewritten so it excludes all for profit private companies from any involvement in vocational education and training.

Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said, "As the public TAFE system plays a key role in training the Illawarra workforce I strongly urge local Labor candidates to add their support to the call for a new National Partnership Agreement. 

Responding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission finding that Careers Australia had “engaged in unconscionable conduct” Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

“While ACCC has exposed Careers Australia’s misuse of public money and is forcing the company to pay the money back to the Commonwealth, this action alone will not stop for-profit providers from exploiting vulnerable people. 

The Australian Greens have expressed concern for the thousands of Queensland families who will be disadvantaged by the government's decision to delay the implementation of childcare reforms by one year, as revealed in the May Budget.

While the government's package still has to be improved, it was set to save average families $30 a week and be introduced in 2017. With 188,950 Queensland families accessing childcare, the one year delay in rolling out the reforms represents a potential $287 million hit on family budgets.

The Australian Greens have expressed regret at the government's decision to delay implementing seriously overdue changes to the early education and care sector for another year.

"Early education and care clearly isn't a priority for the Turnbull government," the Greens' early education and care spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The Liberal Party promised, before the last election, to tackle the rising cost of childcare.

The Australian Greens have called out the Liberal party for its smoke-and-mirrors approach to higher education after last night's budget announcement revealed plans to cut 20 per cent of funding from the university sector in the 2017 forward estimates and beyond.

The Federal government has today confirmed its abandonment of full Gonski funding, Greens spokesperson for Schools Nick McKim says.

“Today’s announcement of funding for ‘high-performing’ schools will redirect resources to the top, and risks reigniting the funding battle between public and private schools,” Senator McKim said.

"It will also work against States, Territories and schools with more disadvantaged students."

Australian Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms has urged the government to drop its plan to deregulate university fees, which would burden students with massive debts when they graduate.

"The Greens are proposing a reduction in student debt by lowering HELP fees by 20 per cent, which would be paid for by maintaining the deficit levy. There is a fairer alternative that delivers top-class university education to young Australians, paid for by the people who can best afford it," Senator Robert Simms said.

Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms has revealed the Greens plan to reduce HELP debts by 20 per cent and re-instate student start-up scholarships.

"We're constantly hearing the argument from the government that students need to carry the burden for their chronic under-funding of the university sector, but this is simply untrue and unfair. Students shouldn't be seen as cash cows. Investment in higher education is in the public good," Senator Simms said.

The Greens have committed to increase resources for students with disability by $4.8 billion over the next four years, as part of a comprehensive plan for fairer funding for schools.

Australian Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said he was proud to lead the only party with a comprehensive plan for students with disability.