No plans to scrap student fee: Abbott The prime minister says scrapping a university student services fee is not a government priority. PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has backed away from any immediate plans to scrap a university student services fee, saying it's not a priority. Education Minister Christopher Pyne had flagged plans to abolish the fee as early as the May budget. The coalition opposed the introduction of the $273 annual fee, which universities can spend on 19 specified types of non-political student services and amenities. Mr Pyne described it as "compulsory student unionism by the back door." But Mr Abbott said on Thursday the government had no plans to scrap the fee at this time. "There's a lot on our plate," he told reporters in Melbourne. We are going to be a very busy and active government over the next few years and this is not a priority for us.