BONNER VETERANS TO RECEIVE IMPROVED SUPPORT

The 2015-16 Budget has confirmed that pensions for veterans and their families will continue to increase by the greater measure out of CPI, Male Total Average Weekly Earnings or the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the Abbott Government recognised the significant contribution and sacrifice veterans and their families made for Australia.

“Reversing last year’s budget measure and maintaining the current pension indexation arrangements is consistent with the Abbott Government’s pre-election promise to give DFRB and DFRDB military superannuants aged 55 and over access to the best indexation arrangements out of the three indices,” Mr Vasta said.

“This is great news for nearly 200,000 Australians who receive a DVA pension, including approximately 2,200 who are residents of Bonner.”

“The Government holds Australia’s veteran community in the highest regard. Our commitment to ensuring that members of the veteran community receive appropriate support and entitlements is ongoing.”

Under the reform of Australia’s pension system, the asset test will be changed to ensure that resources will be focused on those with lower or moderate private wealth outside of the family home.

 

Asset limits and taper rates will be adjusted and will affect those who have the capacity to support themselves in retirement while pensioners with lower private wealth will receive a higher rate of support.

The pension reforms are part of a suite of budget measures targeted at improving rehabilitation outcomes and reducing claim processing times for veterans. Other initiatives include:

 

·         Providing $10 million to recruit more case-coordinators to assist with the increasing number of complex claims and improve claim processing times;

 

·         Providing $3.7 million to extend the in-home telehealth trial for veterans and war widows, an initiative aimed at keeping veterans in their own home and community for longer;

 

·         Streamlining the pathway for review of decisions about entitlements made under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004; and

 

·         Providing further funding for the Centenary of Anzac Programme to support additional events commemorating battles that occurred on the Western Front during the First World War and key anniversaries of other conflicts.

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$400 MILLION SUPPORT PACKAGE TO HELP DROUGHT STRICKEN COMMUNITIES

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta has welcomed a further Budget boost to communities hit by the drought, taking the total value of measures available in this year’s Budget to more than $400 million.

In addition to the $333 million announced at the weekend, the Commonwealth will provide $70 million to assist primary producers claim accelerated depreciation for water facilities, fodder storage and fencing from 1 July 2016.

“Drought is part of the landscape in Bonner and whilst some areas continue to battle severe conditions, as a nation we must better prepare for drought in the long term,” Mr Vasta said.

“The accelerated depreciation measures as well as the immediate response package announced at the weekend by the Prime Minister are vital and welcome.”

“This is a practical package that funds shovel ready projects, helps with feral animals, expands community support, and provides more financial counsellors and further drought concessional loans.”

“Droughts don’t last forever–so we need to keep as many people in jobs and families on properties while it continues.”

“This assistance is as much an investment in our region’s future as it is support for us today.”

“This is about local jobs, local spending and keeping our towns and communities going through these tough times.”

Mr Vasta said the $70 million in depreciation measures was in addition to other measures already announced as part of the Budget:

• $35 million for shovel-ready, local infrastructure and employment projects;

• $25 million to manage pest animals and weeds in drought-affected areas;

• $20 million to expand existing social and community support programmes;  

• $1.8 million for additional rural financial counsellors in drought-affected areas; and

• $250 million in 2015-16 to continue access to existing drought specific concessional loans schemes.

“This assistance builds on the existing Commonwealth support to farmers experiencing hardship which is currently flowing to over 4,800 farmers or their partners,” Mr Vasta said.

Mr Vasta said further measures will be announced in the forthcoming Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

For information on the new drought support measures go to www.agriculture.gov.au/drought.

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