On Friday the Prime Minister mentioned a pilot programme for international students to return to campus

Access terms and quarantine conditions would apply and while no institution was named he did say it could work in the ACT.

There were suggestions on the weekend 350 students could arrive, ahead of ten times that next year.

Cue glee from the capitals major two campuses which Fred and Gingered a coordinated response. “The University of Canberra is situated in one of the safest cities in one of the safest nations in the world. We are working with the full support of the ACT Government in tandem with ANU to welcome our continuing international students back to Canberra as soon as possible,” VC Paddy Nixon said.

“We have missed them and it’s been tough on them being away from the city and campus – and from a community they contribute to substantially, ANU’s Brian Schmidt agreed.

“We’re working in close partnership with the ACT Government and the University of Canberra to develop a pilot to safely return our student.”

The ANU branch of the NTEU was quick to suggest a pilot would improve ANU finances to such extent that the management-proposed pay-rise cancellation is now not necessary.  An all-staff vote on varying the Enterprise Agreement to cancel this year’s pay-rise starts Wednesday.