The Palmer United Party will not vote for the federal government’s contentious higher education laws.

PUP leader Clive Palmer on Friday confirmed he had written to Education Minister Christopher Pyne spelling out his party’s opposition to the legislation.

“Deregulating universities just means they will cost more for all Australians to have a decent education to provide for their families,” Mr Palmer said in a statement.

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The government should also scrap plans for the Medicare co-payment, paid parental leave and “other extravagant measures”, he said.

“The government should direct its funding to abolish university fees and have a free higher education system to enable all Australians to have the ability to go to university,” he said.

The legislation passed the lower house on Thursday but the Senate is unlikely to consider it until next month.

An inquiry into the bill may delay its debate until October 28, when the committee reports to the Senate.

Labor and the Greens are also opposing the laws, which deregulate student fees and raise interest rates on student debt.

The government says the changes will put universities on a stronger financial footing and open up courses to a wider range of students.

Family First senator Bob Day and the Liberal Democrats’ David Leyonhjelm are expected to vote for the legislation, but the government needs another four crossbench votes.