LUKE GOSLING

moving ahead with a city campus, which will give our CBD an economic boost.

The first wave will be in the construction phase, which can begin soon. Once it’s completed, up to 5000 international students will live on campus or rent units in town.

This will mean many more meals, haircuts and schooners sold, as well as boosts from visiting relatives and friends.

Having students in the city will be great but there will also be opportunities that open up at the Casuarina Campus as space becomes available.

CDU has come a long way and by continuing to develop ties with industry, our university will help drive our economic recovery and play an important role in ensuring a strong and sustainable local economy.

That is why the Federal Government’s decision to cap funding for domestic students should be a concern to all Territorians. As the unemployment rate increases, more people will look to enrol at uni to boost their skills, but with the Government’s funding cap in place, unis won’t be able to offer extra places.

The fact is, university education is one of our nation’s biggest industries – the total value of Australian university

“This warmth is no doubt a big part of why international student applications are increasing”

pect many of you – it’s how much “stuff” I don’t need.

I don’t mean to make light of the pandemic, but it’s helped me prioritise.

Like many other Australian workers, I have been required to take annual leave.

I’m also reconnecting with my home base, and thankful for that as well.

We’ve been told that coronavirus will change the way we Australians behave. research alone is estimated at $160 billion, more than the entire value of Australia’s mining industry – and it is also one of the biggest regional employers.

Our university provides 1500 direct jobs and has the potential to become an even more important driver for Territory business.

Finally, on this May Day long weekend, we celebrate hard-won workers’ rights.

With that in mind, let’s consider the teachers, academics, tutors, early learning educators and carers who with the admin staff, library staff, catering staff, grounds staff, cleaners and many others have kept working through this crisis.

Thank you all.

But for how long? How quickly will we fall back into habits that didn’t serve us well?

The way I see it, we now have a great opportunity to create new habits.

To be kinder to ourselves and others.

To spend our money more wisely … I repeat, 31 lipsticks?

And to use our time better on things that count, besides freshly shaved legs of course.