Madam/Deputy Speaker, today I would like to speak on a community forum I will be hosting next week on the ice epidemic currently affecting my electorate of Bonner. 

This is a topic close to my heart. The statistics on methamphetamine use and its devastating impact on families and communities are a great cause of concern on their own. What I’ve found truly confronting are the personal stories my constituents have shared with me. Ice rips apart families and destroys lives. The scourge of ice is growing and must be addressed at all levels.

I was driven to hold the Bonner ice forum to help tackle this problem at a local level, as part of the Australian Government’s wider measures to combat the scourge of ice. The purpose of the forum is to bring together local law enforcement, medical experts, school and community leaders, and individuals whose lives have been impacted by ice. We will be answering the community’s questions on ice and the Government’s measures to stop its spread.

My aim with the forum is to start a dialogue within our community. The fight against ice can only be effective when the community and law enforcement work together and keep each other informed. I hope with this forum that more people will come to understand the extent of the ice problem and the role they can play to help stop the spread of this terrible drug.

Ross, in partnership with local law enforcement, schools and health experts, invites you to attend the Bonner ice forum on Wednesday, December 9. The forum aims to start a dialogue about what can be done at a local level to combat the scourge of ice in our community.

If you'd like to come along, please RSVP to ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au or call 3893 3488.

Thank you Madam/Deputy Speaker. Today I rise to speak about the fantastic Red Frogs Australia program based in my electorate of Bonner. This is a vital initiative for young people right across the country, teaching them valuable life lessons and giving them the support they need.

At this time of year I always like to reinforce the importance of safety at Schoolies to students in my electorate. Programs like Red Frogs help spread this vital message. Last week I was privileged to attend a Red Frogs talk by founder Andy Gourley at Mansfield State High School. The students had a great time learning how they can best protect themselves and their mates.

It was great to see in person what makes Red Frogs so special. Since Andy began Red Frogs in 1997, the program has grown to cover a range of events and critical issues for youth. Red Frogs helps set up healthy behaviours for young people to last a lifetime.

I applaud the Red Frogs crew for their work. In particular I want to thank Andy Gourley for his immense contribution to this cause. Red Frogs has changed so many lives in my electorate, in Australia and across the world, and it all started with one bag of Red Frogs and one man’s passion to engage with young people. I look forward to seeing the program achieve even greater success in future.

Today I rise to speak yet again on broadband internet in my electorate of Bonner. I’m extremely pleased to have much better news for my constituents following NBN’s release of its new three-year rollout plan.

After years of frustration under the slow and expensive joke that was Labor’s plan, today I’m proud to announce that over 59,500 homes and businesses in Bonner will soon have access to superfast broadband. That means within three years, 80 per cent of the homes and businesses in the Bonner community will be NBN ready.

Next year construction will begin at over 22,000 premises in Mount Gravatt, Mount Gravatt East, Upper Mount Gravatt, Holland Park, Holland Park West, Mansfield, Wishart and Macgregor. These suburbs will be connected to the NBN via HFC. The rest of my electorate will be connected either via HFC or fibre-to-the-node technology—a decade sooner than they would have under Labor’s plan.

Again I would like to thank the former Communications Minister, the Prime Minister, for his outstanding work reining in the costs of the NBN. Thanks to him Australians will receive fast internet years sooner. I would also like to thank the current Communications Minister for continuing this good work and ensuring every home and business in Australia will have access to superfast broadband by 2020.

Thank you Madam/Deputy Speaker. Today I rise to speak on the Special Care Central Recognition Awards that were recently held in Bonner. In particular I would like to talk about two outstanding individuals from my electorate who’ve gone above and beyond to help people with special needs.

This year marked the 7^th year of the Special Care Central Recognition Awards. These are a fantastic set of awards for a fantastic set of local individuals and businesses. The awards shine a light on those in our community who are making a real difference for disabled people. They’re held as part of the Disability Awareness Expo, which itself helps raise the profile of our disabled community.

I’ve been so privileged to be a part of the Disability Awareness Expo and the Recognition Awards over the years. It was unfortunate this year I had to be in Canberra the same week this wonderful event was held. However I must thank my good friend Yvonne Campbell from Special Care Central for allowing me to sponsor a new award this year.

The Local Hero Award was created to recognise people in the community for the positive contribution they’ve made to the lives of individuals with special needs. I was pleased to hear that two noteworthy individuals received the inaugural award for 2015 and I’d like to take a moment to single out their remarkable achievements.

Thomas Spencer is a young man with a disability who has overcome many obstacles in his life to achieve his goals. He has worked hard to help and inspire others with special needs to realise their potential. He was extremely deserving of the Local Hero Award for all that he’s accomplished from such a passionate and selfless perspective.

The second recipient of the Local Hero Award has dedicated many years to helping students with special needs. Lyndall Hayes has led the Step-Up to Employment program at Darling Point Special School since it began in 2013. In the years beforehand she coordinated the vocational education programs at Darling Point Special School.

The Step-Up program helps disabled students get work-ready and fosters their independence. Lyndall and her team help each Step-Up student progress in their senior education while helping them work toward achieving their hopes and aspirations. Students learn important life skills and benefit from work experience opportunities with local businesses. Many graduates have gone on to paid and volunteer work. Thanks to Lyndall’s dedication, Step-Up has been a great success setting up students for a bright future.

Thank you to Thomas and Lyndall for your amazing work. Congratulations also to the people and businesses who were nominated for a Special Care Recognition Award this year. I want to thank all of you and also Special Care Central for everything you’ve done for the disabled community. I look forward to attending the Awards at next year’s Disability Awareness Expo.

Today I would like to acknowledge the outstanding humanitarian work of two incredible people from my electorate of Bonner. Dr Andrew Wright runs a medical practice in Wynnum West. He has served the Wynnum community well for several years. He and his wife Anne have also dedicated many years to improving the lives of people in the town of Kitgum in Northern Uganda.

The Wrights have spent their own time and money to provide Kitgum with much-needed medical services, assistance and training for local medical staff. They established a medical clinic in the town some years ago. Since then, they have spent a great deal of time in Kitgum offering medical aid and inspiration to the locals. They have worked hard to build a hospital for the community. I’m pleased to report that, as of this week, the Yotkom Medical Centre has opened its doors and is taking its first patients.

I commend the Wrights for their inspirational and selfless work. Many people in my electorate have also recognised their work and the good name they have given our community. I would like to say the Wrights have given all of Australia a good name overseas. We would all do well to follow their example. I wish Andrew and Anne the very best for the future.