CDU lists policy requests for next NT government after election

Charles Darwin University has revealed the 22 things it wants from the next NT government, just seven weeks out from this year’s election.

An NT entrant to the Solar Car Challenge, Traditional Uses Forest with a focus on bush food, and a “Chief Scientist” are among CDU’s demands for the next NT government.

Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman set out 22 policy requests this week, just seven weeks out from the 2024 election.

His requests cater to six key areas including education, more engagement in science, First Nations leadership, economic opportunities, liveability, and infrastructure.

“We have always been a university of and for the Territory, and we believe these 22 policy requests will help Charles Darwin University to continue to be for the Territory,” Mr Bowman said.

Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

He said the Lawler government had already helped deliver two of its requests, including its support for allied health placement scholarships and ongoing funding for Aboriginal education.

“For years a locally run medical program was considered too difficult and out of reach,” Mr Bowman said.

“The University worked hard to challenge this notion and make this aspiration a reality.

“The CDU Menzies Medical Program will drive invaluable change in the Northern Territory, and existing initiatives such as the Remote Aboriginal Teacher Education program are having profound impacts in our communities.

“We want to continue to create this kind of impact with the remaining policy requests.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said she was also interested in looking into the number of parking spaces attached to student accommodation after the university noted it would need a “less restrictive” approach to carparking ratios required for new buildings.

“I was the planning minister for a number of years, and we’d already had conversations around that,” she said.

“Most university students, particularly if they’re living in the CBD, won’t necessarily need those number of car parks so we can work and negotiate through that one.”

Read the full list of policy requests:

1. Ongoing funding for the RATE program to provide a consistent and secure pipeline of Remote Teacher Assistants and qualified teachers into the future

2. Policy change to the NT Higher Education Scholarship to be awarded only to students studying at CDU and for the scholarships to target professions-in-need, rather than ATAR score

3. New place-based TAFE funding model for remote areas

4. Initiate a review of VET in schools that includes consideration of remote delivery models, effective engagement, and literacy and numeracy support

5. Establish a Chief Scientist for the NT and offers to provide in- kind support, as appropriate, through the CDU-NTG Partnership Agreement

6. Establish the Radicle Centre for Science and Technology Engagement and Pathways and offers to provide in-kind support including space in its new Darwin CBD Campus

7. Commit to an NT entrant in the Solar Car Challenge and offers to partner with the NT Government

8. Commit to a review of regional planning, which includes a strong element of scientific advice, and embeds preliminary consultation with First Nations, community, industry and government stakeholders

9. Partner to deliver Bidjipidji and the First Nations Pre-Programs by releasing employees and funding travel costs for participants

10. Fund a Traditional Uses Forest focused on bush food in Katherine

11. Policy change to the Buy Local Plan to explicitly include research

12. Fund a Food Technology Pilot Plant

13. Partially fund, along with industry, a Centre of Excellence for Energy Transition

14. Partially fund, along with industry, an Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre

15. Increase the budget for Study NT in line with the realised economic contribution of international education

16. Commit its advocacy to gaining Commonwealth Medical Supported Places

17. Fund rural placement scholarships for allied health students in the NT

18. Fund Defence family members to study or train at CDU

19. Collaborate on the design of a CDU campus in the CBD of Alice Springs as part of the revitalisation of Alice Springs

20. Fund remote delivery trailers to take more TAFE delivery remote

21. Fund a Technical Trades Training Centre on the Katherine Rural Campus

22. Take a deregulatory approach to purpose built student accommodation including reducing carparking ratios

Originally published as CDU lists policy requests for next NT government after election