Ross Vasta member for Bonner said Australians want an election so they can choose their government and prime minister.

“As I talk with people throughout Bonner they are telling me that they feel let down and disappointed in a government that is focused on itself rather than the challenges facing the country.  They know that the next election is the most important choice before our country in a generation”, said Ross Vasta.

“Once again the faceless men of the Labor Party, rather than the people, have chosen a Prime Minister – and that disappoints everyone.

“For too long we’ve had chaos, division and dysfunction – and people want an end to the soap opera. 

“They want an election – and they want the opportunity to choose their government. 

Ross Vasta said when he spoke with people at shopping centres, sporting fields and community events it was clear people wanted real change that helped families, helped the economy and stopped the boats.

“I will be campaigning every day explaining our Real Solutions Plan to build a strong prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia – with more jobs, higher wages and better services for all Australians.

“Our Plan will abolish the carbon tax, keep fortnightly pension and benefit increases, help small business employ people, get the Budget under control and secure the borders.

 “Only the Coalition offers our country a competent, experienced and united government that is focused on delivering real change for our country.

“After six years of division, dysfunction and chaos of Labor: Only an election will deliver a genuinely united government and a better future – for all Australians.”                      

 Ross Vasta, Member for Bonner said the election on 14 September will be a choice between Labor and its carbon tax and the Coalition with its commitment to abolish the carbon tax.

“Labor’s carbon tax will go up 5 per cent next Monday, and another 5 per cent next year and will expand to include the diesel costs of heavy trucks”, said Ross Vasta

‘The increases in the carbon tax and the expansion of the carbon tax to include heavy vehicle fuel costs will increase transportation costs as well as prices.

“When I speak to families, retirees and pensioners they are telling me that they are already under great cost of living pressures and many small businesses are operating day-to-day.

“Julia Gillard promised before the last election that “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” and instead we have the world’s biggest carbon tax which is going up and up.

Ross Vasta said he would campaign against the carbon tax every day until election day.

“If the Coalition is elected as the government on September 14, repealing the carbon tax will be the first order of business for an incoming Coalition government. Repealing the carbon tax will reduce electricity and gas prices and protect local jobs.

“We have nailed our colours to the mast – if elected, the carbon tax will go.  No ifs, no buts.

“Repealing the carbon tax is a central part of our Real Solutions Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and create one million new jobs over the next five years.

“The carbon tax represents for the people of Bonner a clear difference between myself and Labor’s candidate.  The Coalition has a plan to abolish the carbon tax, Labor has a plan to increase it.   

Ross Vasta said repealing the carbon tax was the best thing that we can do to take pressure off families and to help the economy.

Ross Vasta is urging residents in the Bonner to nominate fellow community members in the search for the 2014 Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero.

The Australian of the Year Awards are accepting public nominations for the four award categories until Friday 2 August 2013. 

Nominations can be made online at www.australianoftheyear.org.au  or you can call 1300 655 193 for more information.

Ross Vasta said nominating someone for the Australian of the Year Awards is simple to do and a great way to recognise community members who are making a difference.

“To be considered for the Australian of the Year Awards, an individual must be nominated,” said Ross Vasta.

“There are many people in our community who work tirelessly to help others, whose contributions make our region a better place and whose achievements make us proud – these are the people who deserve to be nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards.

“The four award categories mean there is an opportunity to recognise people in all areas of our society, whether they are humble community volunteers or people who are achieving on a national stage.

“It’s an easy process to nominate someone, and you could be helping to find the next Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year or Local Hero.”

 There are four award categories:

·                     Australian of the Year – open to all Australians who deserve
                      recognition for their extraordinary achievements, contributions to the
                      community and nation and who are inspirational role models to all
                      Australians;

·                     Senior Australian of the Year – recognises those Australians aged 60
                       years and over who continue to achieve and contribute to the 
                       community;

·                     Young Australian of the Year – recognises those extraordinary young
                      Australians aged 16 – 30 years who are making their mark on our
                      community;

·                     Australia’s Local Hero – recognises Australians who make a real
                      difference in their local communities and whose outstanding          
                      contributions enrich the lives of those around them.

 Nominations close Friday 2 August 2013.

For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards or to submit your nomination online, visit www.australianoftheyear.org.au

To read Ross’ speech on National Disability Insurance Scheme please click the link below:

NDIS Speech

Ross Vasta says the next election, due in exactly 100 days, will provide the people of Bonner with a clear choice.

 “The election will be a choice between the Coalition with its Real Solutions Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy, or another three years of chaos and broken promises from Labor”, said Ross Vasta.

 “As I listen to residents at shopping centres, school events, sporting grounds and at homes when I doorknock, they are telling me that they want a return to good government.

 “They also want a government that has a strong plan to help families get ahead, deal with cost of living pressures and creates more jobs.

 “The carbon tax will be a big issue, particularly as it is going to go up again by 5 per cent on 1 July.  If elected, removing the carbon tax will be the first priority of a new Coalition government.

 Ross Vasta said he was talking to people throughout Bonner about the Coalition’s plans for a stronger economy with more jobs, higher wages and better services for all Australians.

 “It doesn’t matter if you are a student, or parent or older person, you want to be able to plan your future with confidence.  Our Plan allows people to do that. 

 “We will assist household budgets by abolishing the carbon tax and take immediate pressure off electricity and gas bills.  We will also help families, retirees and pensioners by keeping the tax thresholds as well as fortnightly pension and benefit increases.  This will provide tax cuts and pension increases without a carbon tax.

 “If we are elected on September 14, we will do the important things that this government has neglected like getting the Budget back under control, repaying debt, ending the waste and stopping the boats.

 Ross Vasta said the next election was a choice between more Labor debt, deficits, division and dysfunction and the Coalition with the Plan and experience to restore hope, reward and opportunity and to help all Australians get ahead.

 “Australia needs a Coalition government to provide Australians with the good government that our country deserves.”

On the 19th June, Member for Chatsworth Steve Minnikin, will be hosting a Queensland Plan Community Forum.

The Queensland Plan is a bipartisan initative, with the aim of building a 30 year strategic plan for Queensland. I encourage you to visit http://queenslandplan.qld.gov.au/ to learn more about the plan.

The forum will be open to all members of the Chatsworth Community and will provide you with the opportunity to contribute to the Queensland Plan.

Follow the link below for the venue map:
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/f0e09f5e382d5c9fd7d5352eb/images/MISC_Queensland_Plan_Venue_Map.jpg 

Applications are now open for a community grant of up to $10,000 for local projects that will help increase the recycling of beverage containers.

The Keep Australia Beautiful grants, funded by Coca-Cola, are open to all communities across Australia with grants of up to $10,000 per applicant available for projects that will result in a measurable increase in beverage container recycling in local communities.

Applications are open to community groups, local associations, small to medium enterprises and local councils and will be awarded to:

– projects which address the specific issue of beverage container recycling and it’s by-products;

– practical local solutions that can be used as examples for others and leave a legacy;

– projects that do not duplicate existing recycling activities; and

– projects that result in measurable volumes of recycled materials.

According to Peter McLean, Keep Australia Beautiful National Executive Officer, “Local communities play an important role in tackling litter and diverting waste from landfill. By providing funding for additional public place recycling infrastructure, education and awareness, this program aims to significantly increase beverage container recycling rates at the very local level.

“These grants enable projects that otherwise might not come to fruition to be implemented by local community groups, councils, and other organisations to benefit both the local community and the environment in a positive, results driven way.”

A proven ability to implement, measure and report on suitable projects will be taken into account, whilst past and present participants in the keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Communities Awards-incorporating the Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities programs, will also be highly regarded.

In larger communities this may mean infrastructure for events, or for special venues such as large retail centres, sporting venues or education centres. In smaller communities, it may mean assistance with transport or processing to overcome remote location or dispersed population.

The 2013 grants program brings the investment by Coca-Cola to $1.2 million in partnership with the Keep Australia Beautiful Network, to encourage public place recycling.  Over 125 organisations have implemented local projects Australia wide through the program to date.

A total of $409,000 in grant funding is available for this year’s program with applications closing on Friday 14th June 2013. Successful applications will be advised by early July.

To apply visit the Keep Australia Beautiful national website: www.kab.org.au (click ‘Programs Beverage Container Recycling Grants’) and fill in the online application form or contact Keep Australia Beautiful National Association.