Stop texting me, you're embarrassing yourself, Lazarus tells Pyne
Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews , Minister for Education Christopher Pyne and Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Pyne has been urged to lay off the texting. (AAP) AAP
Palmer United Party senator Glenn Lazarus has asked Education Minister Christopher Pyne to stop "harassing" him by text message over the higher education reforms.
"Christopher Pyne is embarrassing himself and needs to stop harassing me and other crossbenchers," Senator Lazarus said.
"I am being inundated with text messages from Christopher Pyne virtually begging me to support the Abbott Government’s higher education reforms.
Education reforms defeated in Senate.
"It is clear that the Abbott Government is so desperate they will stoop to any level to win support for the higher education reforms."
Senator Lazarus - who has been in hospital this week for treatment for kidney stones - said his party would vote against the reforms.
"I won’t be bought and I am not prepared to horse trade," he said.
"The majority of Australians do not want increased education costs.
"The higher education reforms are nothing more than a sinister Abbott Government budget cutting measure."
Lobbyists for and against the changes have been stalking parliament's corridors trying to shore up votes.
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