Labor's higher education spokesman Kim Carr has urged universities to continue to make a noise about what they want rather than hope silence will keep them safe from government cuts.
He says now is the time to dream large and to have a serious discussion about the value of ideas, innovation and the vast potential of Australia.
"Some will take the view that if you go quietly, the razor gang will leave you alone," he told the Universities Australia conference in Canberra on Thursday.
"Universities need to defend the fundamental principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, excellence and proper resourcing.
"Historically, the sector has made its views on this matter very clear, and I trust you will continue to do so."
Senator Carr took aim at Education Minister Christopher Pyne's address to the conference on Wednesday, in which the minister said the government would get out of the way of universities but they needed to embrace their freedom and autonomy to innovate.
"The public does not buy the simplistic view that governments are elected just to get out of the way," Senator Carr said.
The former tertiary education minister was also concerned the future of research funding was now in the hands of the government's commission of audit, saying a similar review in the UK led to an 80 per cent reduction in public funding of universities.
