On Saturday, 23 May, I had the pleasure of hosting Prime Minister Tony Abbott for afternoon tea in my electorate of Bonner.

The Prime Minister was a delightful guest, updating the crowd on the latest post-Budget news and listening to the individual stories and concerns of my constituents.

The reception the Prime Minister and I received at the afternoon tea was an unmatched experience not soon forgotten.

I thank those who attended for their words of support and encouragement during the event and in the days following.

I very much look forward to hosting the Prime Minister in Bonner again.

I will continue to work with the Prime Minister and the rest of our parliamentary team in Canberra to deliver more jobs, growth and opportunity for the people of Bonner.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, today said sporting opportunities for children were set to expand now that local Bonner primary schools could apply for funding through the Abbott Government’s $100 million Sporting Schools programme.

Mr Vasta said the before, during and after school hours sporting programme is designed to deliver sports for local schools’ particular needs and ultimately to get Australia’s children active, engaged and having fun, more often.

“I urge local schools that have not already done so to register and apply for funding as part of the Abbott Government’s $100 million Sporting Schools programme,” Mr Vasta said.

“The new Sporting Schools program gives local primary schools more versatility to run activities before, during or after school time.”

“We know it’s vitally important that we help children in Bonner develop healthy and active habits early in life.”

Mr Vasta said local primary schools could apply for funding between now and 26 June 2015, and be part of a national programme that’s set to improve children’s participation in sport.

Approximately three quarters of children spend their spare time watching television, while only one third of children are managing the recommended hour of physical activity a day and only half are involved in sport. With this in mind, the Abbott Government is committed to providing Australian children with an opportunity to build healthier habits early in life.

“Sporting Schools is about developing children’s love of sport during those early years,” Mr Vasta said.

“It’s about nurturing their love of fitness and activity so that they become committed to a long term sporting life and fostering skills in leadership, teamwork, social inclusion and community spirit.”

Over 2,000 primary schools have registered for the programme, which aims to eventually include 5,700 primary schools across the country and to target over 850,000 children to get involved in a before, during or after school sporting activity.

This year’s round of programme delivery grants will enable primary schools in Bonner to deliver sports-based activities during Term 3 and 4 this year.

More information on Sporting Schools can be found at www.sportingschools.gov.au.

For those interested in the 6th Community Pharmacy Agreement: the Government continues to work with all stakeholders in the medicines supply chain as part of its negotiations to finalise the 6CPA and Sustainability of the PBS package. Our goal is to maintain access to medicines for Australian patients in a timely manner. The PBS continues to grow. Over the next 5 years taxpayers will spend in the order of $50 billion on the PBS and the government will continue to invest in new medicines. These discussions have included Medicines Australia who are currently running a campaign against measures to make the PBS sustainable.

The Government invested an additional $1.6 billion in medicines on the PBS in the 2015 Budget and is currently considering another $2.5 billion for medicines to treat conditions such as Hepatitis C, melanoma and other cancers. This is a significant benefit to patients but also represents a major investment in the companies that sell the medicines. To ensure that we can continue to invest in these expensive new medicines, it is vital we ensure that the PBS remains sustainable. Since the 2013 election the Abbott Government has delivered on its promise to list more medicines more quickly, by listing 652 new and amended drug listings on the PBS at a value of $2.9 billion. It is disappointing that such a misleading campaign is being run while the Government is still at the table in good faith negotiations.

Councils and incorporated not-for-profit organisations in the electorate of Bonner will now be able to apply for funding of between $20,000 and $10 million for capital infrastructure projects under Round Two of the National Stronger Regions Fund.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, today encouraged all eligible parties to apply, with the National Stronger Regions Fund designed to strengthen communities and deliver economic growth within Australia’s regions.

“There were 405 applications received under Round One seeking funding of over $1.2 billion, reflecting on the importance of this programme to Australia’s regions,” Mr Vasta said.

“Given that Round Two applicants will now have more time to develop and submit their applications, the quality for this round is expected to be much higher.”

“This programme presents a key opportunity for local councils and organisations to receive much needed funding towards priority projects. I would encourage all eligible parties to submit an application.”

Mr Vasta said following feedback from stakeholders on Round One, some changes have been made for Round Two.

“Under Round Two, $25 million will be quarantined for those projects seeking funding of $1 million or less,” Mr Vasta said.

“This will create more opportunities for councils and organisations in Bonner who may not need $10 million in funding, but do need a smaller amount to achieve real outcomes.”

“Applicants will also be allowed to submit two applications. This is a huge boost for potential applicants in Bonner, allowing them to target two key projects which may not have been funded by other means.”

Applications for Round Two of the National Stronger Regions fund close on 31 July 2015.

The Australian Government is providing $212 million to successful applicants under Round One of the programme.

More information on the programme, including how to apply for Round Two, is available at http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/nsrf.

Today the Commonwealth Government announced the projects to gain funding under its $50 million Manufacturing Transition Programme.

The Commonwealth contribution to the Programme is accompanied by over $200 million in investment by Australian manufacturers.

Nineteen businesses will receive between $1 million and $5 million to improve their competitiveness by investing in new capital equipment and plant improvements.

The Programme seeks to encourage Australian manufacturers to invest in more sophisticated and knowledge-intensive manufacturing. This will create high value jobs in areas where the greatest economic opportunities exist.

The $50 million Manufacturing Transition Programme fulfils an election commitment to ensure a secure future for manufacturing in Australia by focusing on areas of competitive strength.

It provides the structural and strategic support necessary to give manufacturers the confidence to back themselves and carve their place in a changing global market.

This programme complements other Commonwealth Government initiatives – such as the establishment of Industry Growth Centres and the abolition of the carbon and mining taxes – to provide the right policy settings for investment and to improve the competitiveness of Australian manufacturing.

Successful projects were awarded through a competitive, merit based process, and based on advice from an expert technical committee.

Information on the Manufacturing Transition Programme can be found at business.gov.au/MTP.

Bonner students are set to benefit greatly from the 2015 Budget, which delivers a record $15.7 billion in 2015-16 for all schools across Australia, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

This is part of more than $69.5 billion in funding over the forward estimates for all Australian government and non-government schools.

Total Commonwealth funding for all schools will increase by $4.1 billion, a 27.9 per cent increase from 2014-15 to 2018-19.

In Queensland, total funding for all schools will increase by $875.7 million, a 28.8 per cent increase over four years.

“This is more Commonwealth funding than ever before,” Mr Vasta said.

Mr Vasta said students with a disability will also receive the extra support they need with a record $5 billion over 2014-17 through the funding loading for students with a disability.

“This is more Australian Government funding for students with disability than ever before and includes $1.3 billion in the 2015-16 financial year alone,” Mr Vasta said.

“The great news for Bonner students with disability is that funding is increasing and will continue to rise over the coming years.”

From 2016, for the first time ever, Commonwealth funding will be informed by the National Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) so that Bonner students with disability are funded on the same basis as other students around the country.

While funding is important, the Coalition Government is focussed on proven methods to lift student outcomes.

In this Budget the Government is providing $16.9 million to improve teacher training.

This funding will also support the Government’s implementation of a literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education students from 2015.

“This important Budget measure is all about supporting Bonner schools and teachers to be the best they can be,” Mr Vasta said.

“This measure builds on the work we’ve already done to improve the national curriculum, increase school autonomy across Australia and promote greater parental engagement.”

“These are the four pillars of the Coalition’s Students First approach that are proven to lift the outcome of our students.”

The 2015 Budget invests in education from preschool to postgraduate studies, as part of the Government’s commitment to increase opportunity and improve and safeguard quality and excellence in education.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta has welcomed measures in the 2015-16 Budget that will deliver support for the full roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), improve employment services for people with disability and increase assistance for Australia’s 2.7 million carers.

The 2015 Budget initiatives are part of the Government’s commitment to full delivery of the NDIS and acknowledgement of the important work carers perform in communities across Australia.

Supporting the full rollout of the NDIS

Mr Vasta said, “The 2015 Budget commits $695 million for the NDIS for the next financial year, in line with the Government’s commitment to continue the trial sites and to prepare for the full rollout of the Scheme from July 2016.”

“The NDIS is already supporting more than 10,000 Australians. At full roll-out more than 460,000 people with disability will benefit from the NDIS.”

Importantly, the 2015 Budget will provide $143 million for a new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system to support full delivery of the NDIS. The current ICT system does not provide the full range of capabilities required for full roll-out nor was it intended to service the Scheme long term.

The new system will support over 460,000 participants and service providers, deliver enhanced data to federal, state and territory governments and streamline the process for people with disability.

More support for Australians with disability

The 2015 Budget continues the Government’s strong record of supporting employment opportunities for people with disability,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Budget delivers $25 million over four years to start to shape Disability Employment toward a new model in 2018.”

“This includes $9 million over three years to create the JobAccess Gateway for people with disability and employers.”

JobAccess Gateway will be a new online service centre for people with disability and employers, complemented by a range of in-work supports to help people with disability to develop appropriate skills and lead them to finding and keeping a job.

The Gateway will streamline services and programmes and create a virtual disability employment marketplace through a new digital and client relationship service centre.

Supporting Australia’s carers

Mr Vasta has welcomed important measures to support Australia’s carers.

“Carers will benefit from easier access to critical information and services—$33.7 million will be invested in the Integrated Plan for Carer Support Services (IPCSS), which will streamline and coordinate services for carers and deliver a national carer gateway,” Mr Vasta said.

Carers are currently searching for support and services through a number of often confusing pathways across the disability, community mental health and aged care sectors.

This carer-specific entry point will comprise a national telephone contact centre and a website to help carers find support and services, regardless of the need or the age of the person they care for.

“We know that not all carers access formal support, so this carer gateway will give them information to all forms of support,” Mr Vasta said.