TAFE discussion paper only draft: govt

The federal government is playing down the prospect of taking over TAFE funding from the states.

A spokesman for Vocational Education and Training Minister Luke Hartsuyker says a paper floating the prospect of deregulating TAFE fees and providing TAFE the same funding as private colleges was only a draft version.

The unfinalised discussion paper will eventually be taken to a meeting of state and territory ministers in March, the spokesman told AAP on Wednesday.