Newly appointed Tourism and International Education Minister Richard Colbeck will need to embrace Tasmania’s wilderness values to be a success in the role, Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim says.

“He needs to realise that Tasmania’s wilderness underpins our tourism sector by attracting tourists and international students to Tasmania to visit,” Senator McKim said.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (10:08): The Greens support the Higher Education Support Amendment (New Zealand Citizens) Bill 2015. It brings some equity to the loan scheme, which is obviously problematic in itself, but fairness always needs to be striven for. It removes the unfair treatment of long-term residents of Australia who, just because of where they were born-in New Zealand-are New Zealand citizens.

Outgoing Australian Greens spokesperson for higher education, Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"It has been an honour to advocate Greens policy on tertiary, technical and further education for the past five years.

"From working with students and staff to successfully defeat the Coalition government's attempts to wreck our public universities, to fighting on behalf of TAFE across the country, I have been proud to put forward the Greens' vision on high quality, public and free education.

The Australian Greens are calling on the Abbott government to stop jeopardising the future of public education after reports that universities are bracing for a further 10 percent cut to research funding.

Greens spokesperson for tertiary, technical and further education said: "Yesterday's news was that the Abbott government may go ahead with its 20 per cent cut to university funding despite the legislation being blocked, and today it's the 10 per cent cut to the Research Training Scheme.

Commenting on news reports that the Education Department has advised at least one university that the Abbott government's 20 per cent cut to universities will go ahead in 2016, despite legislation failing to pass the Senate, Greens spokesperson for Tertiary, technical and further education said:

"The Abbott government should immediately rule out cutting funding to universities given the legislation has failed to pass Parliament twice.

The Australian Greens have called on the federal Minister for Education to immediately rule out any plans to restrict so-called "below standard" universities from accessing research funding.

"High quality, accessible public higher education and research is absolutely vital to ensuring Australia has a secure, jobs-rich economic future," Greens spokesperson for tertiary, technical and further education Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

Commenting on Education Minister Christopher Pyne's comments that he will bring back his Bill to slash university funding and deregulate student fees in the spring sittings, Greens spokesperson for tertiary, technical and further education Senator Lee Rhiannon said: "If Minister Pyne is counting on being third time lucky, he has underestimated the resolve of the Australian people and the Senate to ensure that $100,000+ degrees does not become a reality.

Commenting on a new report that funding for VET across all levels of government dropped in 2013/14 by 7 per cent Greens spokesperson for tertiary, technical and further education Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"Vocational Education Training is in trouble. State and federal governments urgently need to fix the structural causes.

"The COAG agreement on vocational education and training which allows hundreds of millions of public dollars flow to private, for-profit providers needs to be overhauled.

Reports that very few students enrolled in private colleges graduate with qualifications reveals the extent of the negative impact for-profit companies are having on education standards, Greens tertiary, technical and further education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

"Assistant Minister for education and training Senator Simon Birmingham is crying crocodile tears over a problem the Abbott government created when they brought in their privatisation agenda for vocational education and training course," Senator Rhiannon said.

The Abbott government’s refusal to release higher education modelling documents arguing that it would be contrary to the public interest is jaw dropping says Australian Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon.

 “Refusing to produce the Senate’s request for higher education policy costings is yet another arrogant and misguided move by a government that is majestically unravelling,” said Senator Rhiannon.