Manly Lota RSL:
Richard Russell Park, Cnr Cambridge Pde & Ferguson St, Manly.
Arrive at 10.30am for a 10.45am start, followed by morning tea at the Manly-Lota RSL Hall.
Contact: 3348 2572

Wynnum RSL:
174 Tingal Rd, Wynnum (Pandanus Room).
Arrive at 10.30am for an 11am start, followed by light refreshments.
Contact: 3396 1155

Holland Park-Mt Gravatt Sub Branch RSL:
Memorial adjacent 58 Arnold St, Holland Park.
Arrive at 10.15am for a 10.30am start, followed by refreshments.
Contact: 3397 0561

Sunnybank RSL Sub Branch RSL:
Mt Gravatt Blue Care, 1541 Logan Rd, Mt Gravatt.
Arrive at 10.15am for a 10.30am start.
Contact: 3345 2876

Bayside National Servicemen’s Association:
Darling Point Memorial, Lower Esplanade, Manly.
7am start

When: Saturday, 22 November – 10am to 3pm.
Where: College Hall, Citipointe Christian College, 322
Wecker Road, Carindale.
Cost: Free

Citipointe Christian College is inviting locals to come along to their boutique market day and take the opportunity to purchase unique gifts for their loved ones. There will be over 50 boutique stall holders, as well as a jumping castle and small animal farm for the kids. More info at www.brisbane.coc.edu.au.

With less than a week to go until world leaders arrive for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, people around the country are finding out more about how the decisions reached in Brisbane will benefit Australian households and businesses, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said today.

“As host, Australia is making sure the meeting isn't just a high-level talk-fest,” Mr Vasta said.

“We are determined that world leaders use their influence to deliver the economic growth, jobs, and financial stability that will benefit billions globally – including Australians.”

“The focus is squarely on reforms that will make a real difference, empowering the private sector to grow, create jobs, and be more productive and prosperous.”

“The centrepiece of Australia's host year is the G20's commitment to boost economic growth by an additional 2 per cent over five years. This is the first time the G20 has agreed to such a target, and members are now 90 per cent of the way to hitting it.”

“That’s important, because while economic growth isn’t the solution to every problem, every problem is easier to solve if we have good economic growth.”

Australia’s host year has also seen significant work being done to promote private-sector investment in the ports, railways, roads, and other infrastructure that boosts productivity and makes trade and business easier. G20 members have agreed to a major push globally to remove barriers and create incentives that make it easier for this investment to occur.

Other highlights include work to close global tax loopholes, in a bid to see that big business pays its fair share of tax in the places where it makes its profits, with G20 members agreeing to start sharing information to expose tax cheats.

“The G20 nations are responsible for 85 per cent of global GDP and 75 per cent of global trade, and are home to two-thirds of the world's people,” Mr Vasta said.

“That means the decisions G20 leaders make in Brisbane this month will have global impact, when implemented domestically.”

“The G20 is also the only institution that puts the largest developed economies around the table with the largest emerging economies, so that the benefits of reform can be shared by all.”

As host city, Brisbane is making final preparations for the arrival of up to 4000 delegates and up to 3000 media, with direct economic benefits to the city estimated by the Brisbane City Council to be in excess of $100 million.

When: Saturday, 8 November – 3.30-8.30pm
Where: Edith Street, Wynnum
Cost: Free

Following on from the success of their monthly Saturday morning market in Edith Street in 2013-14, WynnumCentral is now converting it to a twilight market that will take place on the second Saturday of every month (except January) between 3.30pm and 8.30pm.

The first Twilight Market will take place on Saturday, November 8. There will be a number of stalls open on the day, along with a full entertainment line-up.

For more information, visit wynnumcentral.com.au/markets. You can apply for a stall at wynnumcentral.com.au/for-stallholders.

Beta-Sigma Phi – Alpha Gamma Chapter market day is being held at the Carina Leagues Club Club Sunday 14 December 2014 with all proceeds raised going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

 In just under two weeks, the leaders of the G20 will assemble in Brisbane.

This will be the largest ever gathering of world leaders in our history, and it is the culmination of Australia’s presidency of the G20.

The G20 is the world’s most important economic forum.

The countries of the G20 generate 75 per cent of all world trade and 85 per cent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product. 

At this G20 Summit, our focus will be on building a stronger world economy.

Because economic growth means more jobs, higher living standards and governments that are better able to reduce tax and fund better services.

Australia has already secured an agreement that G20 countries will aim to boost their collective economic growth by 2 per cent above what is currently expected over the next five years. 

Countries have been working on their action plans and collectively, we have already reached 90 per cent of our growth target. 

Australia is leading by example with our Economic Action Strategy – scrapping the carbon tax and the mining tax, cutting red tape costs, signing free trade agreements and undertaking the largest infrastructure investment in our history.

The G20 focus will be on the fundamentals of the economy: trade, infrastructure, tax and banking.

Our discussions will include the $1 trillion world-wide infrastructure gap, reducing tax avoidance by global companies, and increasing participation in the workforce.

While a stronger economy won’t solve every problem; it will make almost every problem easier to tackle.

So it’s an honour to be hosting the G20. 

I know there will be inconveniences in Brisbane as the leaders gather and I thank people for their patience.

It is an important event for Australia.  I’m confident that it will make a lasting difference for our country and for our world.

Congratulations to Southside Community Craft Circle for reaching their recent milestone of 20,000 items donated to Queenslanders in need. Southside Community Craft Circle creates rugs, clothes and toys that are distributed through local organisations to children in foster care and other Queenslanders in crisis.

As part of National Recycling Week taking place from November 10 to 16, Southside Community Craft Circle is asking for people to donate any unwanted yarn in their cupboards, or to make a general donation of 8 ply acrylic yarn, that can be used to knit and crochet items that will go to Queensland children in need.

For more details, contact Wendy on 3341 2039.

Madame/Deputy Speaker I wish to update the House on what the Government has achieved for small businesses in my electorate of Bonner, what we are further doing to help local businesses, and what services and initiatives are now available to businesses in Bonner.

I’m pleased to report that my Small Business Forum, which I hosted with Minister for Small Business the Honourable Bruce Billson on October 14, was a great success. A number of business owners and representatives turned up on the night, and it was a pleasure to make the acquaintance of so many new people, as well as catch up with old friends, and see many in the room forge new connections over their shared passion for business.

With my own small business background managing and operating a chain of restaurants, I know the hard work and long hours involved in running a small business. It is easy to empathise with the daily predicaments business owners face.

One of the major talking points of my Small Business Forum was the need to protect small business in cases of misuse of market power and unconscionable conduct. Attendees on the night responded positively to Minister Billson’s overview of the current Competition Policy Review chaired by Professor Ian Harper, the first comprehensive review of Australia’s competition law, policy and institutional framework in 20 years.

I thank Minister Billson for his update on the Harper Review, and for encouraging attendees to ensure their important voice is heard by making a comment or submission on the Harper Review Panel’s recently released Draft Report. I look forward to seeing the outcome of the Harper Review and for some positive outcomes for small businesses in my electorate.

Other important issues Minister Billson and I addressed at the Forum included cutting red tape for small businesses, and helping employers grow their businesses and create jobs.

The Government’s first Red Tape Repeal Day back in March was a major win for small business.

We removed more than 50,000 pages of unnecessary government regulation and legislation as part of our commitment to cut $1 billion a year in red and green tape costs. Our second Repeal Day took place yesterday and will mean more savings and benefits for small business.

Of course, I must also mention the biggest win for small businesses in Bonner this year: the repeal of the carbon tax. At my Small Business Forum I was extremely pleased to hear from business owners who have seen significant savings in their power bills since the carbon tax was abolished in June.

Treasury has estimated that, with the carbon tax gone, retail electricity prices should be around nine per cent lower and retail natural gas prices should be around seven per cent lower in 2014-15.

This is a great win for small businesses, particularly those who rely on cold storage – as Minister Billson shared at the Forum, refrigerant gas prices went up an incredible 400 per cent after the carbon tax was introduced. What a relief this giant impost on small business is now dead and buried.

Minister Billson also informed attendees at the Forum, some of whom expressed reservations about the $1,000 GST low-value exemption on imported goods, that the GST threshold was a key focus at the inaugural Small Business Ministers meeting earlier this month. I eagerly await further progress on discussions over lowering the GST threshold, which will help small businesses in Bonner against fierce overseas competition.

I am pleased that small businesses in Bonner are also benefitting from new, existing and upcoming services available to them that are continuing to evolve and improve.

I thank the Wynnum and Districts Chamber of Commerce for coming out to the Forum and inviting attendees to register with their Small Business Advisory Service. Through this free service, local businesses can access experienced mentors with strong business expertise, business and marketing planning advice, a referral service, and small group think tanks and Q & A panels on selected business topics.

I also thank those from the Manly Chamber of Commerce and Bayside Women in Business who attended the Forum. Manly Chamber of Commerce also does great work for small businesses in Bonner, while Bayside Women provides local women in business with networking opportunities as well as assistance with building and running a small business. I have also been involved in plans for a new community-oriented business hub in Wynnum that will be another great boost for Bayside businesses.

Many thanks go to Minister Billson for attending my Small Business Forum, and to those who turned up on the night. I very much appreciate those who took the time out of their busy schedules to discuss with the Minister and myself the issues most important to them. I will continue to fight on behalf of all small businesses in Bonner and to assist them in any way I can.

Thank you.