The Australian Greens are calling on the Government to abandon the idea of lowering the HELP repayment threshold to fix the budget bottom line when broader reforms to the education sector are needed.

The Australian Greens say the Government must rule out collecting HECS from the dead and hiking up university fees in order to make up its budget shortfall, following speculation the idea is in consideration.

"We know the Liberals hound students while they are alive and now they are even considering chasing them beyond the grave," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

The Australian Greens have slammed the Government's decision to wind back the Safe Schools Coalition after the conservative backbench demanded a review into the program.

"It is clear that Malcolm Turnbull has thrown LGBTI young people under the bus today by bowing to the right-wing backbench bullies and stripping back the Safe Schools program. If the likes of George Christensen can chalk this up as a victory, alarm bells will be ringing for LGBTI students and their families," Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

The Australian Greens are calling on the government to make contingency plans for the flood of staff who have just lost their jobs and students who will lose their places at private training college Evocca, as the broken for-profit VET sector continues to crumble.

"My thoughts go out to the 220 Evocca employees who have been made redundant today and 900 students who will be affected by Evocca's decision to close 17 campuses across the country.

The Australian Greens are calling for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to stand up to the conservative backbenchers trying to derail and discredit the vital work of the Safe Schools Coalition.

"The lives of LGBTI young people are on the line here. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull needs to draw a line in the sand - he can't throw LGBTI kids under the bus just to ensure he maintains power," Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

"It's time for Mr Turnbull to stand for something and protecting LGBTI young people is a good first step."

The backbench MPs opposed to the Safe Schools Coalition must drop their attack on the program following the Government's review and move on, say the Greens.

"This review was pointless to begin with and now we've got coalition MPs throwing a tantrum because they don't like the outcome. They need to put the safety and well-being of LGBTI young people ahead of their political ideology and stop their homophobic crusade against Safe Schools," Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

The Greens say the government must abandon its plans to increase university student fees and instead focus on building a sector that provides quality and affordable education, following Education Minister Simon Birmingham's speech to Universities Australia.

"Increasing university fees will saddle students with a lifetime of debt. Australians don't want to see a US-style education system where access to university is based on your bank balance," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms.

The Australian Greens are calling on Education Minister Simon Birmingham to commit to providing universities with adequate funding following a plea from Universities Australia for direction from the government.

"We've heard today that the university sector is on tenterhooks waiting for the government's next move on university funding. The lack of direction being provided by this government leaves both universities and students in a state of flux, uncertain of what the future holds," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

The Australian Greens are calling on more support for VET students and increased funding for TAFE amid the continuing failures of the for-profit VET sector.

"The news that up to 24,000 students could be forced by the Phoenix Institute to pay $300 million in course fee loans for an education they won't receive highlights the deficiency in the VET reforms passed by parliament late last year. For as long as we have private for-profit providers receiving public funds, students are at risk of exploitation," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

The Australian Greens will tonight table two petitions - one from the Greens and one from international LGBTIQ advocacy group All Out - totaling more 70,000 signatures supporting Safe Schools. The petitions were launched in response to Senator Cory Bernardi's petition of 9499 that lead to the Prime Minister calling for an investigation into the program.