Help raise funds for a good cause! The Trivia Night is a fundraiser for the Annual Community Meal held at Mt Gravatt during Social Inclusion Week 2017. You will have the opportunity to purchase your dinner from 6pm (menu available at the Hotel) and join in the fun of the night with wizard questions and raffles. In fact those who do purchase a meal will go into a draw for a special raffle as well. The cost is $10 per person. Get a group of 8 together and have your own table!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/trivia-night-connecting-communities-tickets-34998495442

It’s with great pleasure I announce today that the Federal Government has committed $10 million to go toward Brisbane City Council’s upgrade of Green Camp Road. This adds to Brisbane City Council’s $18 million investment to improve the Green Camp Road corridor.

Construction works are due to start next year. This will include widening of Green Camp Road between Manly Road and Rickertt Road. It will also include much-needed fixes to the notorious Green Camp Road and Rickertt Road intersection.

I’ve spoken before about the issues commuters between Brisbane and Redland City face every day on these roads. Around 1,000 vehicles pass through the Green Camp Road-Rickertt Road intersection during peak times. This can bring traffic to a standstill for up to two kilometres. Countless people have come to me over the years asking for a fix.

Thanks to combined Federal and council efforts, commuters will receive an upgrade for the Green Camp Road corridor much sooner. As well as reducing congestion, the project will improve safety for drivers due to improved signalling.

I thank Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and local Councillors Adrian Schrinner and Ryan Murphy for funding this vital upgrade. I also thank my colleague, Member for Bowman, Andrew Laming, for his advocacy on behalf of Redland residents, which together has allowed us to secure the Federal Government’s contribution to this project.

I look forward to seeing work completed on this vital upgrade for Bonner commuters.

The Turnbull Government is following through with its election commitment to deliver affordable living for all Australians.

The government has announced tougher regulations for the Gas sector giving Aussies priority to the supply and plans to strengthen the Australian regulator, alongside delivering the energy assistance payment to millions of Australians.

More than 20,000 people in Bonner are amongst the 3.8 million nationally who will benefit from a one-off payment of up to $75 to help with energy costs.

The Energy Assistance Payment will be provided to anyone on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Parenting Payment Single as well as Veterans and their partners who receive the Service Pension, Income Support Supplement and relevant compensation payments.

A total of 21,355 people in Bonner will benefit from this measure including:

·         15,127 recipients of the Age Pension

·         3,414 recipients of the Disability Support Pension and

·         1,138 recipients of Parenting Payment Single. 

·         1,676 recipients of veteran’s payments.

The one-off payment is $75 for singles and $62.50 for each pensioner in a couple will be automatically paid to eligible recipients over the next two weeks.

Local MP Ross Vasta said this one-off payment was delivered as part of a package securing significant reform through the Senate.

“In securing the passage of the company tax cuts, helping small and medium sized businesses employing 6.5 million people, the Government also committed to providing these one-off payments.”

The payment will not be taxed, will not be treated as income for tax purposes and does not count as income for social security purposes.

Mr Vasta said “this package is great news for people of the Bonner electorate, not only are we delivering this Energy Assistance Payment but we have also approved the reinstatement of thousands of Pensioner Concession Cards.”

Approximately 733 part-pensioners will have their Pensioner Concession Card reinstated.

“As a result of the much needed reforms to part pension on January 1 this year some former part-pensioners in Bonner lost access to some state and local government concessions.

“We have listened to the community and I personally campaigned for the reinstatement of this concession and I’m delighted that these people will have their card reinstated and be able to access the same benefits they enjoyed previously through the Pensioner Concession Card.”

The Pensioner Concession Card will be automatically provided to eligible former part-pensioners in October.

Further information is available at: www.humanservices.gov.au/energyassist

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta today invited community groups, organisations and individuals to start their own tree planting projects by applying for grants under Round Three of the 20 Million Trees Program.

“Up to $6 million is now available for grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for tree planting projects that will put back threatened bushland and support threatened species,” Mr Vasta said.

“This is a great opportunity for people in our community who are committed to looking after our local environment and improving our green spaces. These green spaces connect communities to the environment and improve the liveability of our towns and cities.”

“I encourage interested parties to apply for projects that will provide valuable benefits to the environment and our local community.”

The 20 Million Trees Grant Guidelines: Round Three are now available and applications close on 15 August 2017.

The Coalition Government’s 20 Million Trees Program will see 20 million trees planted across Australia by 2020. Under previous 20 Million Trees funding rounds, Landcare groups and community projects across Australia have planted three million trees. With 13.4 million trees already contracted for planting, today’s announcement will ensure that the 20 million trees election commitment target is met.

The 20 Million Trees initiative is an important part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

More information is available at www.nrm.gov.au/20-million-trees.

Today I’d like to speak about my recent visit to Moreton Bay College in Manly West. I along with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Leader, the Hon. Julie Bishop  and met the senior girls of MBC to discuss important issues and events affecting them.

The MBC community has been shaken by the latest terror attack in London, which claimed the life of MBC old girl Sara Zelenak. Minister Bishop advised the girls on how to turn this tragedy into motivation to go forth and be the very best they can be. She spoke about the importance of standing strong together in the face of tough times.

She also gave the girls an insight into her own life, and the trials and tribulations she has faced as a lawyer and politician. The students then had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present questions to the Minister.

The school motto at Moreton Bay College is ‘breadth of mind, depth of heart’. This motto is no doubt embodied within the MBC community.

The Minister told the girls: life is not without obstacles and battles, but if you believe that you can achieve great things, you can.

I was impressed by the self-awareness and intelligence the girls demonstrated when questioning the Minister, and I have no doubt they have great things ahead of them.

I thank the Minister for joining me in visiting Moreton Bay College, and for sharing her insight with the senior girls.

The Federal Government has committed $10 million to Brisbane City Council’s upgrade of Green Camp Road, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.
 
This funding will add to Brisbane City Council’s $18 million investment for the upgrade, with works expected to commence next year.
 
“The Rickertt Rd-Green Camp Rd intersection is currently plagued by traffic congestion with long queues during peak periods,” Mr Vasta said.
 
“This project will include road widening and intersection upgrades along the Green Camp Road corridor, reducing peak-hour queues and increasing safety for commuters between Redland City and Brisbane.”
  
“I thank Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and local Councillors Adrian Schrinner and Ryan Murphy, for funding this vital upgrade,” Mr Vasta said.
 
“I also thank my colleague, Member for Bowman, Andrew Laming, for his advocacy on behalf of Redland residents which together has allowed us to secure the Federal Government’s contribution to this project.”