The new bill had removed from the former Victoria University of Technology Act 1990 a clause which provided VU would foster educational opportunities in the west.

Western metropolitan MP Colleen Hartland was not convinced replacing the clause with a preamble about the western suburbs would ensure VU's legislative commitment, especially to students of lower socio-economic backgrounds.

"If Victoria University does not remain bound by the obligation to expand education opportunities in the western suburbs, who else will break the cycle of students in my area thinking they are not good enough to go to university?" the Greens MP said in the upper house.

"There are plenty of intelligent people in the western suburbs. But a lot of intelligent people miss out on university education because they lack opportunity."

The Government and Opposition supported the amendment to reinsert clauses into the bill for VU "to foster participation in post-secondary education for persons living or working in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne".

National Tertiary Education Union branch committee member Paul Adams was pleased.

"What is significant is that it has cross-party support, from Liberals, from the Greens and Labor.

"It is a very clear message coming from Spring Street. If the university management decides to ignore that, it speaks very badly of their responsiveness and commitment both to their stakeholders and the community," he said.

Mr Adams said VU had been moving away from its obligations in closing campuses and courses.

"It is making decisions purely on the basis on what are the most profitable courses. But what they have forgotten is they must also provide a service to the region.

"And particularly to allow people who may otherwise be disadvantaged to have an eduction."

Kyneton Secondary College careers adviser Chris Bromley was angry that the tertiary education for students in his area had been limited by the closure of the Sunbury campus.