The Australian Greens spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Robert Simms, is calling for greater powers for the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) so they can do their job - regulating the VET education system.

"We are seeing a ballooning of the private, for-profit VET providers, who have a free reign over this unregulated sector. This puts students at risk of being saddled with debt for worthless degrees," Senator Simms said.

"The business model of these institutions is about maximizing profit at the expense of student outcomes.

The Greens Spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Robert Simms has welcomed the Government's announcement that it is abandoning attempts to deregulate the University sector during this term.

"Today's announcement is testament to the strong campaign run across the community against these reforms. Australians have well and truly rejected the Government's vision for a US style University system that prioritises wealth and privilege over access and opportunity."

The Australian Greens spokesperson for Higher Education, Robert Simms, calls on Education Minster Simon Birmingham to reject the Group of Eight universities' push for a two tiered research system.

"The Group of Eight universities' push to restrict funding for PhD and master's research would completely undermine the foundations of our public university system," Senator Simms said.

The Australian Greens spokesperson for Higher Education, Robert Simms, says the potential class action against for-profit provider, Evocca College, highlights the need to crackdown on private operators accessing government funding.

Senator Simms said a lack of regulation and oversight leaves students at risk of exploitation and receiving sub-standard degrees.

"It's time for an overhaul of vocational education training in Australia. We really need a system that puts quality in education above the profit margins of private businesses."

Robert Simms is an Australian Greens Senator for South Australia. He was endorsed by the South Australian Parliament in September 2015 and is the first out gay man to represent SA in the Federal Parliament. He is the Australian Greens' spokesperson for Higher Education, Sexuality and Marriage Equality, and Water and the Murray Darling Basin.

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.