Labor caucus discusses education bill

Labor has called a special caucus meeting in Canberra to examine the government's revamped higher education bill.

The caucus is expected to oppose the changes and call for the bill to be brought on for debate on Wednesday, just a day before parliament is due to rise for the year.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne is due to introduce the bill shortly, but doesn't want it immediately voted on.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the caucus meeting the last week was proving to be a "shocker" for the government.

"This meeting has been convened because I believe that the Labor caucus, on behalf of millions of Australians, do not need eight weeks to review these rotten offerings," he said.

"We are ready to vote now on that debate."

There was already enough votes in the Senate to defeat the new legislation.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne on Tuesday night told a function in Canberra the government would not be giving up on the reforms.

"As Churchill said in 1940, some people will think this will be the beginning of the end - it is the end of the beginning," he said.

Mr Shorten responded with his own Churchill-style quote about the government's changes.

"We shall fight them in the parliament, we shall fight them in the community, we shall fight for opportunity, we shall fight for a fair university system and we shall never surrender."