Labor doesn't see hope for govt unis cuts

Labor's education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek says enough Senate crossbenchers are against the federal government's university package it is unlikely to pass.

Tanya Plibersek doesn't believe the government's education overhaul will pass parliament this year. (AAP)

Federal Labor doesn't believe the Turnbull government will bring its university funding overhaul to parliament anytime soon, despite the coalition insisting it still wants much of the package to start in January.

Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek says from the crossbenchers she's spoken to, the government wouldn't be successful in getting its package - including cuts to university funding and hikes to student fees - through the Senate.

"Most people see this for what it is, that it is just a bunch of funding cuts," she told ABC TV on Sunday.