The federal government plans to spend almost $15 million on a higher education advertising campaign.
Labor frontbencher Kim Carr and independent senator Nick Xenophon asked Auditor-General Ian McPhee for details on the taxpayer-funded campaign after being stonewalled by the finance and education departments.
Mr McPhee said in his response the government had agreed to a budget of $14.6 million, including a $9.5 million media buy and $2.3 million for "creative development".
The auditor-general said he had been advised the campaign was intended to "dispel a range of misconceptions" held by students and their families.
The campaign would be examined in a future audit, but Mr McPhee admitted the federal government "has considerable latitude in mounting advertising campaigns".
The government is negotiating with crossbench senators on its higher education bill, which has met strong public opposition.
"It's blatant and misleading political advertising and it won't work," Senator Carr said.
"Nothing is going to persuade voters that uncapped fees leading to $100,000 degrees and crippling student debt is a good thing."
He said ads that had been released contained misleading information about the government guaranteeing to pay half a student's course costs under the changes.
Senator Xenophon has described it as party political advertising.
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