Education Minister Christopher Pyne is stepping up his charm offensive before introducing higher education reforms to parliament.
Back in Canberra and fresh from dumping a bucket of ice on himself for charity, Mr Pyne is preparing to meet the Greens to discuss his plans for higher education.
On Thursday Mr Pyne will introduce legislation to deregulate university fees, expand commonwealth funding for private providers and sub-bachelor courses, cut per-student funding and increase the interest rate for HELP debts.
It's guaranteed to pass the lower house unchanged, but the minister concedes the package won't get through the Senate in its original form.
The Greens don't want money cut from universities.
Higher education spokeswoman Lee Rhiannon told AAP the minor party supported lowering the cost of university study, including sub-bachelor and pathway degrees.
They don't want government to subsidise private providers.
"Public education is about expanding opportunity, not squeezing money out of students and lumping them with massive debts upon graduation," Senator Rhiannon said.
Mr Pyne is pleased the Greens are willing to at least talk, unlike Labor.
Opposition MPs have spent the winter break visiting universities where they have warned students of unaffordable fees and soaring debts if the reforms clear parliament.
Higher education spokesman Kim Carr has made it clear Labor will fight every part of the changes.
If it can't get support from Labor and the Greens, the government needs to win six of the eight Senate crossbenchers.
Only Family First senator Bob Day and Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm have given their broad support.
But Senator Day doesn't want the interest rate on student debts increased.
Mr Pyne has indicated that's an area where he might relent.
Independent senator Nick Xenophon, who is yet to speak to Mr Pyne, says he won't vote for deregulation and the "seismic shift" to the way universities are run.
Many of the other crossbenchers, including Motoring Enthusiasts senator Ricky Muir and the Democratic Labour Party's John Madigan, are waiting to see the legislative detail before coming to a firm position.
There are also suggestions the government could offer more for regional universities.
That could help sway Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie who says the government's proposals will seriously hurt University of Tasmania and, in turn, the island state.
She's yet to meet Mr Pyne and says it's hard to comment on the proposals "because of the lack of reliable detail from the government".
Her PUP colleagues, Dio Wang and Glenn Lazarus, didn't respond to requests for comment but party leader Clive Palmer believes university should be free.
