The Federal government's proposed university overhaul is in serious trouble, with the Palmer United Party Senate leader accusing the Education Minister of harassment and vowing to vote down the legislation.
The government is trying to pass a higher education reform package this week, but needs the support of at least six cross bench Senators including the two Palmer United Senators, Glenn Lazarus and Dio Wang.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has been leading the Senate negotiations, but Senator Lazarus said he has gone too far.
"Christopher Pyne is embarrassing himself and needs to stop harassing me and other cross benchers," Senator Glenn Lazarus said in a statement.
"I am being inundated with text messages from Christopher Pyne virtually begging me to support the Abbott government's higher education reforms."
"I have never given Christopher Pyne my mobile phone number."
PUP will "vote down" changes
Senator Lazarus has accused Mr Pyne and other government ministers of "offering all sorts of deals and incentives" in a bid to get support for the higher education reforms.
"I won't be bought and I am not prepared to horse trade."
Negotiations with the cross bench Senators Bob Day and John Madigan have produced two concessions worth more than three billion dollars over four years.
The government backed down yesterday on removing inflation as the interest rate on HECS student loans and said it would introduce a five year interest rate pause on HECS for new parents.
The Education Minister's last ditch efforts have not worked with Palmer United Party, with Senator Lazarus stating, "Palmer United will be voting down the higher education reforms."
Negotiations like "wading through molasses"
Christopher Pyne earlier stated he was getting "closer and closer" to a Senate deal on higher education.
"It's like wading through molasses because we have eight crossbenchers," Mr Pyne told 5AA radio.
"The Labor Party and the Greens have dealt themselves out of the equation by simply saying no and each crossbencher needs to be spoken to quite independently and they all have their own particular take on the reforms so I'm very patiently, and I hope in good humour, working through all the things that they have issues with, and I think that we are getting there."
It is not known which way Motoring Enthusiast Party Senator Ricky Muir will vote on the government's higher education reforms, with the Victorian declining to reveal his plans at a media event outside Parliament House.
"I will answer questions at the appropriate time today." he told reporters.
Earlier, Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie declared the higher education reforms dead.
"Someone go and take Christopher Pyne a box of Kleenex .. It is all over for him with those university reforms," Senator Lambie told reporters in Canberra.
The Prime Minister Tony Abbott has this week backed down on the issue of defence pay, a key issue for Senator Lambie, however the restoration of Christmas Leave and other entitlements has not been enough for the Tasmanian.
Senator Lambie is still promising to block government legislation, until Mr Abbott increases the rate of ADF personnel pay.
"I want him to look into my eyes and tell him why he is doing that to the men and women who are prepared to fight for this country," she said.
The Prime Minister says he won't be giving in to the Tasmanian's tactics.
"This is a form of blackmail and this is not something that any sensible mature government can submit itself to." Mr Abbott told Channel Seven.
"That's not the way that parliaments are supposed to work. It's certainly not the way this government intends to behave."
Labor frontbencher Stephen Conroy says the government's relations with the cross bench Senators is in serious trouble.
"They thought they had the numbers on a whole range of bills. They have completely mishandled the relationship with the cross benches, "Senator Conroy told reporters in Canberra."
"They have managed to antagonise almost the entire cross bench and that's a real achievement."
That includes Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm.
"The government is not doing a lot to make me love them (laughs)."
Senator Leyonhjelm says relations with the Senate are a two way street.
"The old joke about going to the dentist, reach up under the jacket and grab him by delicate parts and squeeze a little bit and say "We are not going to hurt each other, are we?"
"My advice to Tony Abbott is let's not hurt each other."
