In a rare act of unity, the country’s vice chancellors are livid at what they see as the diminishment of a centrepiece reform saying a proposed independent commission to oversee tertiary education is being crafted as a sub-branch of the federal department.

Sydney University head Mark Scott said the original proposal for a powerful independent body like the Productivity Commission had widespread support, but the current iteration was that it would operate within the education department, be staffed by education department staffers and would report to department secretary Tony Cook.