19 June 2015

Primary schools across the country have less than two weeks to benefit from the first funding round of the Abbott Government’s $100 million Sporting Schools programme.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta urged all local Bonner primary schools who haven’t already registered to do so and importantly apply for funding to join the thousands of schools across the country benefitting from the Abbott Government’s plan to get more children active and healthy.

Mr Vasta said if you haven’t registered and applied for funding, now is the time with the first round of funding to close on Friday June 26.

“This is one of the Abbott Government’s cornerstone preventative health programmes aimed to improve our children’s health through getting more kids involved in physical activity,” Mr Vasta said.

“Being involved in this new programme will expand sporting opportunities for children before, during and after school hours at Bonner primary schools.

“Sporting Schools is designed to deliver sports in line with local schools’ needs and ultimately to get the children of Brisbane active, engaged and having fun through sport, more often.”

Sporting Schools is about developing children’s love of sport during these early years because we know: 

·         approximately three quarters of Australian children spend their spare time watching  television;

·         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 children across Australia with opportunities to build healthier habits early in life Mr Vasta said.

“It’s about nurturing children’s love of sport during these early years to encourage a lifelong sporting commitment while also developing their skills in leadership, teamwork, social inclusion and community spirit.”

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

·         More information on Sporting Schools can be found here.

·         View the Sporting Schools Funding now open video today

·         Applications for funding close 26 June, 2015 

19 June 2015

Small businesses throughout Bonner are set to receive a boost with some crucial budget measures passing through the Senate on Monday night.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta encouraged businesses to take a good look at how they can benefit from these exciting support measures.

“These are two of the really exciting and energising items in the budget designed to help ease the burdens carried by many small business operators, Mr Vasta said.

Bonner is home to over 12,317 small businesses, employing a significant amount of local residents. These small businesses are now experiencing the lowest company tax rate in over 50 years.

Additionally, small businesses are also able to claim the instant asset write off of any asset they buy costing up to $20,000.

These important supportive mechanisms make up the centrepiece of the ‘have a go budget’.

“Coming from small business, I know the costs associated with investing into your business and I’m thrilled the entrepreneurial ones amongst us now have an added incentive to grow their businesses and employ people, Mr Vasta said.

Bonner Businesses are encouraged to go to the Australian Tax Office’s website to see how these changes will affect them.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta today welcomed the Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Access and Sustainability Package of reforms following months of constructive consultations and robust negotiations across the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, including consumers, pharmacists, medicines manufacturers, wholesalers and doctors.

Mr Vasta said the Abbott Government had put together a reform package that struck the right balance between supporting the needs of consumers, pharmacy industry and taxpayers.

“Australians will benefit from cheaper medicines, a more competitive pharmacy sector and greater investment in new medicines and patient support services as part of the package of pharmaceutical reforms,” Mr Vasta said.

“The package includes measures that will see the price of medicines discounted for patients and improved access to new medicines and an additional $2.8 billion investment in supporting pharmacy and primary care.”

Mr Vasta said this agreement provides certainty for local pharmacies in Bonner who have been watching the negotiations closely.

“I’ve been in regular contact with quite a few local community pharmacies during the negotiations and I’m really happy to now be able to provide them with an agreement that benefits all members of the supply chain, especially consumers,” Mr Vasta said.

Mr Vasta said the Abbott Government has doubled the number of drug listings for consumers since coming to office when compared to Labor – a significant investment of almost $3 billion in just over 18 months.

“The Government is now delivering an average of about 30 new and amended drug listings for patients each month compared to an average of just eight under Labor.”

It is important to note as part of this package a number of the measures delivering savings for taxpayers were also saving money for consumers because both would pay less for medicines. 

The savings delivered through the package over the next five years would support the Government’s ability to continue to list new medicines into the future.

The Government listed $1.3 billion in the 2015-16 Budget for new life-saving drug listings and is currently considering almost $2.5 billion worth of new drugs for listing, with another 15 meetings of the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee expected over the next five years. 

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Access and Sustainability Package:

The Abbott Government is proposing a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Access and Sustainability Package over the next five years (2015-2020), including:

·         Supporting a viable pharmacy sector

·         $18.9 billion Sixth Community pharmacy Agreement.

·         A Strategic Agreement with Generic Medicines industry Association (GMiA).

·         $2.8 billion additional direct investment across the pharmacy sector

o   Note: This $2.8 billion investment is in addition to PBS investment that will occur over the next five years, including the $2.5 billion worth of new drugs currently being considered by the Government for listing.

·         An in-principle Strategic Agreement with Medicines Australia is also being progressed.

·         $1.5 billion investment in a new handling and infrastructure fee for pharmacists.

·         Continued growth in investment in new medicines.