Government backs down on some higher education reforms

By Matthew Knott
Updated October 24 2014 - 4:19pm, first published 3:49pm
Retreating: Education Minister Christopher Pyne. Photo: Andrew Meares
Retreating: Education Minister Christopher Pyne. Photo: Andrew Meares

The Abbott government is offering to ditch or delay the most controversial elements of its sweeping higher education reforms to secure a deal with the Senate cross-benchers to allow universities to set their own fees.