The federal government’s plans to deregulate university fees has been thrown into further doubt after leading cast doubt on their support for the reform plans.

The Group of Eight leading universities says the original intention of deregulation has been lost because of a series of compromises by Education Minister Christopher Pyne to win over hostile crossbench senators.

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The group’s chief executive Vicki Thomson told The Australian any package passed by the Senate would be so highly compromised that it could no longer accept it.

“We have been consistent supporters of the government’s package for all the right reasons and we still think it’s the best option,” Ms Thomas said. “But that package is not on the table anymore.”

“The Senate has spoken and rejected the package for the second time,” she said.

“It is not going to accept a package which we believe would deliver long-term funding solutions for the sector.

“If it is prepared to accept a package, we are concerned it would be so highly compromised that we would be back here in a couple of years debating the same things because the funding problems won’t go away.”

The government has vowed to continue with its reform plans despite the concerns of the Group of Eight universities.

“We support deregulation as an alternative model – that isn’t going to happen in this Senate,” Ms Thompson said.

“In the absence of any solution we need to press the reset button and have a review of the sector.”

– with AAP