The key crossbencher yesterday accused the government of lacking long-term vision and not consulting with those affected by its policies, while calling the upcoming La Trobe University forum as “an important inititaive” that should be noticed.

But a spokesman for Education Minister Christopher Pyne said the government’s raft of higher education reforms had involved “extensive consultation” including by La Trobe vice-chancellor John Dewar.

Senator Xenophon himself will not be attending the February 2 forum; nor, so far, will any of the other seven crossbenchers who are crucial to the government’s bid to get its reforms through the Senate.

All eight were invited, as well as Mr Pyne — who will be sending a representative from his office — Farrer MP and Health Minister Sussan Ley, and other federal and state MPs.

But Senator Xenophon praised the forum’s organisers — La Trobe and Charles Sturt University in conjunction with Indi MP Cathy McGowan — for opening up the conversation between parliamentarians, students and educators.

“I physically cannot be there but I will be very happy to follow up the meeting afterward,” he told The Border Mail.

Asked if he believed such a forum would be heard by policymakers in Canberra, Mr Xenophon said: “They need to.”

“The government has been complaining about six-minute medicine,” he said, in reference to the ongoing issue of GP payments.

“Well, they seem to be going through six-minute policy-making — they need to listen, to consult and look closely at their long-term policy.”

Senator Xenophon this week called on Mr Pyne to undertake a “root and branch” review of the sector and abandon its plans for deregulation.

Instead universities would be allowed in the short-term to raise their own fees until the review was completed.

“The problem with the current uncapped demand-driven system is it is unsustainable in the long-term, we do need to have a sensible policy-driven debate,” he said.

He said regional universities played a “critical role” and needed to remain strong and viable.

“If regional students have to go to metropolitan universities it puts them at an instant disadvantage — by virtue of the fact they have to travel and find accommodation,” he said.

“The relocation and ongoing costs are huge.”

Mr Pyne’s spokesman said Professor Dewar had chaired a working group consulting with stakeholders prior to release of the original reform package.

Senator John Madigan cannot attend the forum but is sending his senior adviser; Senators David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day will not be attending while Jacqui Lambie has not yet decided if she will participate.

Senator Ricky Muir and Palmer United’s Glenn Lazarus and Zhenya Wang did not return The Border Mail’s calls.