EXTRA GONSKI FUNDING FOR BONNER SCHOOLS

Government and Independent schools in Bonner are each set to receive a boost in funding by 2021 under the Turnbull Government’s student-centred Gonski funding plan that recently passed Parliament.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said the new funding was part of a $7.78 billion funding boost for Bonner government and Independent schools over the next decade, which will see a $234 average increase next year for every student and around $361 on average extra for each student each year by 2021.

Catholic schools in Queensland will get an additional $2.84b under the plan over the next decade that their education authorities will distribute to their schools.

“We’re delivering a school system that’s entirely focused on students and what they need to be their best,” Mr Vasta said.

“We’re delivering a new funding system that ensures every student gets the resources they need, no matter their background or where they live. We’re tying that extra funding to the activities that are proven to improve the quality of our schools. That means more resources for one-on-one time with teachers and new or existing initiatives such as specialist teachers or targeted intervention programs.”

“We’ve appointed an independent National School Resourcing Board to ensure the funding model is focussed on supporting students and holding governments to account for the money they receive and spend.”

“Our additional funding will start to flow next year, giving schools and communities the certainty they need to plan and ensure that every student gets the support they need to succeed.”

“Schools and students that need the most additional resources will get the biggest funding increases in the fastest time period so that everyone will get their fair share of funding from the Commonwealth.”

“Along with support from Gonski Review panellists Ken Boston, Kathryn Greiner and David Gonski himself, the Government’s plan has been backed by independent think tanks including The Grattan Institute and The Mitchell Institute, as well as schools, families and educators such as former head of the Australian Education Union Dianne Foggo.”

“Our focus now is building on our teaching quality reforms through the work of a panel of education experts focused entirely on how schools should be using the extra funding we’re delivering.”

Further details on the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools reform package are available at www.education.gov.au/qualityschools

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ADJOURNMENT: GREEN CAMP RD-RICKERTT RD UPDATE

This month saw the release of plans for the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade at Wakerley. I’ve spoken many times here about this project. That’s because it’s such a huge win for my electorate.

Green Camp Road carries 30,000 vehicles every day: this part of the road network will no longer grind to a halt at peak times thanks to this vital project. The upcoming works to widen Green Camp Road to at least four lanes between Rickertt Road and Manly Road, as well as upgrade the Tilley Road and Rickertt Road intersections, will drastically improve peak hour commute times for thousands of my constituents.

Earlier this month I joined Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, and local councillors Adrian Schrinner and Ryan Murphy, to unveil details of the project. Brisbane City Council is investing $18 million to tackle traffic congestion along Green Camp Road.

Thanks to a further $10 million contribution from the Coalition Government, the scope of the project has been increased to also include capacity and safety upgrades at the Rickertt Road intersection.

Construction is expected to start in mid-2018 and be complete in late-2019. It will include:

• Two through-lanes in each direction on Green Camp Road from Manly Road to approximately 180 metres past the Rickertt Road intersection;

• Three through-lanes on the Green Camp Road northbound carriageway at the Tilley Road intersection;

• Signalisation at the Green Camp Road and Tilley Road intersection;

• Tilley Road intersection approach widened with one left-turn lane and one right-turn lane;

• Two through-lanes on Rickertt Road in each direction over a distance of 200 metres from the Green Camp Road intersection;

• Rickertt Road intersection approach widened with a separate left-turn lane and two right-turn lanes;

• New on-road cycling lanes and an off-road shared pathway; and

• Raising Green Camp Road and upgrading culverts to improve drainage and flood immunity.

The Green Camp Road corridor upgrade will reduce motorists’ commute times by up to 50 per cent in the mornings, and 35 per cent in the afternoons. It will cut down long peak hour queues on Rickertt Road and Tilley Road, and reduce congestion not only on Green Camp Road, but on arterial roads across the eastern road network.
More importantly, it will deliver safety improvements for thousands of commuters who travel through the area.

I applaud Brisbane City Council’s vision and commitment to deliver this infrastructure that will help meet the needs of future generations.

I also thank the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, the Hon Paul Fletcher, and Member for Bowman, Andrew Laming, for their work securing the Federal Government’s additional $10 million investment.

This upgrade wouldn’t have been possible without valuable feedback from the public. That’s why I’m encouraging my constituents to share their ideas for other vital upgrades in our area by filling out my online local infrastructure survey.

I appreciate their comments so far, which will help secure more important projects for Bonner.

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90 SECOND STATEMENT: WISHART

Today I want to talk about a key part of my electorate: the suburb of Wishart. I spent some time in Wishart over the winter break, talking with residents and local groups about what's important to them.

There was a great turnout at the NBN information session that I held recently for local residents and businesses. NBN Co has confirmed with me that this week over 4,300 premises in Wishart will be switched over to the NBN. These homes and businesses can expect a letter in the mail soon about the next steps they should take to connect to the NBN.

I recently met with the Wishart State School P&C Association to hear the latest on their five-year improvement plan. The P&C adopted this plan in July last year to help focus their fundraising efforts. They've already completed their first goal of putting air-conditioning in their resource centre. This October they're holding a spring carnival to raise funds to help them complete more of their goals, and I look forward to being there.

I also met with the Neighbourhood Watch Upper Mount Gravatt Area 16 to discuss the best ways to tackle local crime in Wishart and surrounding areas. The next round of the government's Safer Communities Fund is coming up soon, and I encourage them to apply.

It's always great to catch up with my constituents in Wishart. I will be doing so again this weekend at a mobile office in Devlin Street Park, with the state member for Mansfield, Mr Ian Walker, and councillor for MacGregor, Councillor Steven Huang.

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Personal Safety Tip class

Personal Safety Tips hosted by Bay Belles, QCWA, Wynnum branch.

Officers from Bayside Crime Prevention, will be presenting a personal safety awareness program
focusing on:  

·         Safety out and about

·         Home Security

·         Identity security

·         Vehicle safety

All members of the community are welcome to attend this event.

When: Thursday 17 August  2017, 7.30pm

Venue: Wynnum RSL Club, small function room
 

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CONSTITUENCY STATEMENT: NBN ROLLOUT IN BONNER

The NBN rollout continues to be an issue of high concern to my constituents. I am pleased to have another positive update for Bonner locals.

NBN Co has advised me that 21 per cent of the NBN rollout is complete in Bonner, thanks to the Coalition government's revised rollout plan. Every premise in my electorate will have access to NBN services by 2020.

The majority of residents and businesses in Bonner will have access within the next year. Over time, the NBN will replace most of the existing networks as the deliverer of a new service network. This means that, at the end of 2020, there will be further plans for path upgrades and speed building. This will ensure that all users in my electorate will continue to have access to the best service possible.

Many people have been asking me about the NBN and what they should do when it reaches their door. Many of my constituents, particularly older residents, have come to me worried about how the compulsory switchover to the NBN will affect them.

To help answer their questions, I recently hosted three community information sessions with representatives from NBN Co. We first visited the Eight Mile Plains-Wishart area to take questions from local residents and business owners. We held two seniors information sessions for locals from the Wynnum Manly and Mt Gravatt areas.

Many attendees have told me how helpful they found these sessions. Common questions addressed included: what steps people must take to switch over to the NBN; whether extra devices are needed to be installed inside their home; and how people can check whether medical devices connected to their landline will be compatible with the NBN. Attendees also learned how they should shop around for a suitable provider in order to get the best possible broadband speeds to suit their requirements.

These NBN information sessions were such a success that I will be holding another one around the Carindale-Carina area in the near future. I look forward to doing more with the NBN as it continues to roll out in my electorate.

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CONGESTION-BUSTING UPGRADE ANNOUNCED FOR GREEN CAMP RD

A major upgrade to tackle traffic congestion along Green Camp Road at Wakerley is one step closer, with Council today releasing designs for the $28 million project.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the project would see Green Camp Road widened to at least four lanes to take real action on traffic congestion, getting residents home quicker and safer.

“The capacity of Green Camp Road, between Rickertt Road and Manly Road, will be boosted with extra lanes, as well as major intersection upgrades for Tilley Road and Rickertt Road,” Cr Quirk said.

“This project is part of Council’s plan to keep Brisbane heading in the right direction, by delivering the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of future generations.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said the Rickertt Road and Tilley Road intersections were currently operating well above capacity and failing to meet current traffic demands.

“With Green Camp Road already carrying 30,000 vehicles each day, this part of the road network will grind to a halt without this vital project,” Mr Vasta said.

“Thanks to the Federal Government’s investment, the scope of this project has been increased to also include capacity and safety upgrades at the Rickertt Road intersection.”

Deputy Mayor and Chandler Ward Councillor Adrian Schrinner said the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade would deliver valuable travel time savings and safety improvements.

“The upgrade will reduce motorists’ commute by up to 50 per cent in the mornings, and 35 per cent in the afternoons, by widening Green Camp Road to four lanes with an additional northbound lane at the Tilley Road intersection,” Cr Schrinner said.

Councillor for Doboy Ward Ryan Murphy said the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade would reduce traffic congestion not only on Green Camp Road, but on arterial roads across the eastern road network.

“Traffic modelling has shown that upgrades of these intersections will reduce long queues on both Rickertt Road and Tilley Road, particularly during the busy morning peak,” Cr Murphy said.

Construction on the Green Camp Road Corridor upgrade is expected to commence in mid-2018 and be complete in late-2019.

The Green Camp Road corridor upgrade is jointly funded by Brisbane City Council and the Australian Government. The Australian Government is contributing $10 million through the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

For more information on the Green Camp Road corridor upgrade visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.

Green Camp Road Project Details:

• Two through-lanes in each direction on Green Camp Road from Manly Road to approximately 180 metres past the Rickertt Road intersection.

• Three through-lanes on the Green Camp Road northbound carriageway at the Tilley Road intersection.

• Signalisation at the Green Camp Road and Tilley Road intersection.

• Tilley Road intersection approach widened with one left-turn lane and one right-turn lane.

• Two through-lanes on Rickertt Road in each direction over a distance of 200 metres from the Green Camp Road intersection.

• Rickertt Road intersection approach widened with a separate left-turn lane and two right-turn lanes.

• New on-road cycling lanes and off-road shared pathway.

• Raising Green Camp Road and upgrading culverts to improve drainage and flood immunity.

 

I would love your help to deliver more vital upgrades for our area and would appreciate if you could fill out my local infrastructure survey 

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FIRST-HOME-BUYERS

FIRST HOME SUPER SAVER SCHEME DELIVERING FOR BONNER

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta today called on first home buyers to take advantage of the Turnbull Government’s First Home Super Saver Scheme, which came into effect on 1 July.

The scheme, announced in this year’s Budget, will give first home savers the ability to accelerate their savings by at least 30 per cent. First home buyers will be able to save for a house deposit within their superannuation by making voluntary contributions of up to $15,000 per year and $30,000 in total into their superannuation account.

These contributions, which are taxed at the discounted rate of 15 per cent, along with deemed earnings, can be withdrawn for a deposit from 1 July next year. Withdrawals will be taxed at marginal tax rates less a 30 per cent offset.

“This initiative demonstrates the Turnbull Government’s commitment to reducing the pressure on housing affordability for Bonner residents across the entire housing spectrum, including first home buyers,” Mr Vasta said.

“With many Australians now entering the housing market later in life, this initiative will encourage first home buyers to save for a deposit more quickly.”

“For most people, the First Home Super Saver Scheme will allow them to save for a deposit faster than saving through a standard deposit account.” 

“It is disappointing that the Labor Opposition are refusing to support this tax cut for first home buyers, choosing to reject the generous tax concessions and instead implement a disastrous housing tax which will drive up rents, making it harder to save for a deposit.”

“By contrast, the Turnbull Government is delivering a comprehensive suite of measures to ease the pressure on housing affordability across the entire housing spectrum, including prospective first home buyers,” Mr Vasta said.

Further information on the First Home Super Saver Scheme is available at http://www.budget.gov.au/2017-18/content/glossies/factsheets/html/HA_14.htm.

First Home Buyers can also get an indication of how the scheme can benefit them by visiting www.budget.gov.au/estimator.

 

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