Greens spokesperson for higher education Lee Rhiannon told the Mercury she had already contacted other senators, asking them to join her in immediately voting down the bill when it hits the Senate later in the week.

Ms Rhiannon said she was worried about the more than 30,000 University of Wollongong students and 2445 staff who would be affected by the changes.

The current government is seeking cuts of about 20 per cent – estimated by the National Tertiary Education Union to be worth about $95.8million to UOW – between 2016 and 2019.

It would also deregulate fees, giving universities the power to raise student fees.

‘‘Increases in fees and debt will hit low-socio economic students, who make up about 25per cent of the student population, the hardest,’’ she said.

‘‘With student fees expected to increase by about 30per cent and skyrocketing debt, it is likely many future students will reconsider going to university’’.

Ms Rhiannon has written to Labour Senator Kim Carr and Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer, proposing they unite to vote the legislation down.

‘‘Voting down the bill this week will provide certainty to the university sector and the community. It will create the space for a genuine debate about how to build up higher education in Australia’’.

UOW vice-chancellor Paul Wellings has flagged plans to cut spending on staff wages, in response to the cuts.