The ANU meanwhile, is now facing potential industrial action following the Electoral Commission confirming last night that staff had voted in favour of protected action.

Negotiations over a wage and conditions claim have broken down with the ANU saying it faced a $79 million budget shortfall over the next three years due to the former Labor Government's efficiency dividend and funding cuts. Education Minister Christopher Pyne has this week raised the prospect of a review of Australia's uncapped university system and has foreshadowed changing international student processes and axing the Student Services and Amenities Fee.

UC Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker said it was not surprising that the student amenities fee was back on the chopping block given historic Coalition antipathy towards compulsory union fees. But it would be a setback for institutions who had rebuilt their campus services over the past few years.

Professor Parker said universities were expecting policy shifts under a new government and were open to reviews of previous targets set by Labor. In particular, he noted Labor changes to overseas student visas had created uncertainty and adversely affected enrolments.

''We are very much supportive of greater clarity and simplicity in the system and we just hope there is no fresh uncertainty.'' UC Students Association President James Pace said student reaction was divided in response to Mr Pyne's plans.

''Some of the students directly involved in clubs and societies are concerned these could be lost, but other students are quite happy not to have to pay another fee,'' Mr Pace, an MBA student, said.

ANU vice-chancellor Ian Young said universities could not afford to dismantle student support services and both he and Professor Parker have committed to helping support essential services at their respective institutions if the fees are abolished.

''But the money is going to have to come from somewhere,'' Professor Young said.

''The Minister has indicated he has three priorities, building quality, enhancing Australia's position as an international destination and cutting red tape. Both I, and I would assume the rest of the vice-chancellors, would welcome those things,'' Professor Young said.

But he would be putting ''a strong case for student services fees being an important element of providing a quality experience for students.'' Meanwhile, the National Tertiary Education Union had suceeded in its vote for protected industrial action. It received notice from its scrutineer at the Electoral Commission vote count, that it had been passed with a 95 per cent majority, according to ACT secretary Stephen Darwin.

But Professor Young said that just 10 per cent of the 4000 staff had voted in the ballot.

Negotiations over pay and working conditions within the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement have broken down but Professor Young said he was keen to resume talks and Mr Darwin said negotiations were preferable to strike action.

Professor Young noted that ''industrial action is currently taking place across 15 universities in Australia. While I would obviously be disappointed if that was the case at the ANU, I don't think it will be tremendously disruptive to either staff or students.''