Will Australia learn from NZ's mistakes in higher education?

Since 1990 New Zealand has introduced many dramatic "reforms" into its higher education system, many of them well in advance of Australia. A number of these "reforms" have been unwound after nasty, unintended consequences were discovered. As a recently new Aussie - and an ex-Kiwi - I often wonder why Australia can't learn from observing New Zealand's lessons, rather than learning the hard way.