Over half a million Australians are getting a better deal on their energy prices thanks to pressure from the Morrison Government on the big energy companies to put customers first.

For too long the big energy companies have focused on their massive profits. We have demanded they put customers first, and lower their power prices.

AGL, Origin, and EnergyAustralia, along with other retailers, have heard our calls and will cut prices for customers on standing offers by up to 15 per cent.

On average, this will deliver an automatic savings of SE QLD $175 for residential customers in Bonner on 1 January 2019.

Ross Vasta MP, Member for Bonner said the Government’s energy policy is delivering for hardworking Australian families and small businesses.

“Rising power prices are impacting household budgets and are stopping small businesses from growing and employing more staff”, said Ross Vasta MP, Member for Bonner.

“The big energy companies have heard the Government’s calls for a fairer deal for Australian families and small businesses, and they have responded.”

We know that navigating your power bills and negotiating a better deal can be confusing and time consuming. That is why we recently launched a new a new phase of the Powering Forward campaign – focused solely on reducing power prices.

The Government has also been clear – the dodgy practices in the energy sector and exploitation of customers must stop.

The ACCC found in its Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry price gouging, rip offs and anti-competitive practices was rife in the sector, labelling it “unacceptable and unsustainable”.

That is why the Government introduced big stick legislation to Parliament to hold the big energy companies to account.

Labor has voted against this ‘big stick’ legislation twelve times. They have sided with the big energy companies and their massive profits.

Only the Coalition Government can be trusted to deliver a balanced and sensible plan to ensure affordable, reliable 24/7 energy supply for Australians. We are taking strong action to lower power prices while we keep the lights on.

Labor’s energy policy guarantees you will pay more for your power. You can’t trust Bill Shorten to keep the lights on, and you can’t trust Labor to take a big stick to the energy companies to stop the rip-offs.

To find out more about how you can save, Member for Bonner urges customers to visit: poweringforward.energy.gov.au

Ross Vasta, Member for Bonner is encouraging locals to contribute to the Australian War Memorial initiative Places of Pride— an online national register of war memorials will record the locations and images of every publicly accessible memorial in Australia.

Mr Vasta said Places of Pride reminds Australians that, irrespective of distance, the stories told at the Australian War Memorial are those of our communities across the length and breadth of the country.

“I invite all members of the community to take part in this initiative and contribute images of their community’s memorials. This is a challenge to every RSL, Local Government Authority, school, and community group to get a photograph taken and upload it. The more the better,” said Mr Vasta.

“The interactive online register will be the basis of a stunning new display in the proposed expanded galleries of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

“Visitors will be able to log in the name of their town on the website, whether Mt Gravatt, Manly, Wynnum, Carindale or Eight Mile Plains and see their memorial come to life”.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said it was incredibly important to instil an ongoing sense of remembrance and respect in future generations of Australians.

“The way in which Australia commemorates our servicemen and women is just one of the many ways in which we publicly say to our ex-service community, thank you for your service,” he said.

Through Places of Pride the Australian War Memorial aims to connect all Australians, united by pride and loss, with each of these memorials from the Boer War through to Afghanistan,

Place of Pride can be found at: https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au.

The Liberal National’s Government will help people in Bonner living with an eating disorder get access to life-saving treatment with a $115 million landmark package.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta welcomed the announcement and said for the first time; those Australians with severe eating disorders will now be able to access a comprehensive treatment plan under Medicare.

“Patients in Bonner will be able to access up to 40 Medicare funded psychological services and 20 dietetic sessions each year, from November 1, next year,” Mr Vasta said.

“Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness, with anorexia by far the deadliest mental health condition in Australia. There are around 1 million Australians living with an eating disorder.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the $110.7 million investment into the first dedicated Medicare item for eating disorders will benefit around 30,000 people each year living with these debilitating disorders, helping them to get better and stay out of hospital.

“This will undoubtedly save many lives as eating disorders can be debilitating for both men and women of any age and this illness is one of the many nightmares parents have for their children,” Minister Hunt said.

“It is only right that we recognise these debilitating conditions within our Medicare system.”

“We have worked closely with medical experts and key stakeholder for many months to achieve this outcome, and we thank the independent Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce for their work, following our request for a review last year.”

“Our Government will also provide $4 million to the InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders.”

“This funding will support new research into better treatment and care for people living with an eating disorder condition,” Minister Hunt said.

Our Government is prioritising better mental health for all Australians with $4.7 billion expected to be spent on mental health this financial year.

This is also why we are so committed to keeping our economy strong. Because without a strong economy, and getting our budget back into balance – we can’t make these important decisions. This is why a strong economy matters.

The Liberal National’s Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued to investment of record amounts of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and public hospitals.

The Liberal National Government is making it easier for households and small businesses in Bonner to compare prices, products, services and providers across the banking, energy and telecommunications sectors.

Mr Vasta said that new laws, which were introduced into the Parliament this week, will establish a ‘Consumer Data Right’ for individuals and small businesses in Bonner.

“Currently, businesses hold personal data which consumers have not been able to access. Under the Government’s changes, consumers will be able to access this previously unattainable data, shift it around to accredited third parties and find the products and services for their needs,” Mr Vasta said.

“This means people’s unique circumstances in Bonner can be taken into account more effectively when they are engaging with product and service providers. It will allow for improved price comparison, easier switching between products and providers and assisting individuals to better understand how they spend their money.

“Consumers will determine what data is shared under the Right, on what terms and with whom. High levels of privacy protection and information security will be a core feature of the system.”

The Consumer Data Right will apply in the banking sector, where it is referred to as Open Banking, from 1 July 2019. It will then be applied to the energy and telecommunications sectors.

The Consumer Data Right is part of the Liberal National Government’s plan for a stronger economy.

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Griffith University in the Bonner region has been awarded a total of $200,000 which will fund five additional journalism scholarships.

The grants are part of the Regional Journalism Scholarships Program, under which $2.29 million is being awarded to 16 journalism schools across the nation.

Minister for Communications and the Arts Mitch Fifield said the grants will help regional journalism students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to operate effectively in the contemporary news media industry.

“This is extremely important to ensure the journalism profession continues to attract Australia’s best and brightest individuals, and encourage them to stay working in regional communities,” Minister Fifield said.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the grants will help attract the highest calibre students to universities so public interest journalism thrives.

“It can be hard to attract ambitious young people to work outside the major cities, but this funding will help local newspapers, publishers and universities attract high calibre individuals,” Mr Vasta said.

A number of quality applications were received under the programs, and this has allowed the Government to fund a diverse range of opportunities.

For more information visit: www.communications.gov.au/regionalinnovation

As part of International Day of People with Disability celebrations, the Australian Government will provide $60,000 to support an ABC scholarship for disability content makers living in regional Australia.

Ross Vasta is encouraging people with disability living in or around Bonner to apply for this unique opportunity.

“Living with disability in a regional town or centre shouldn’t stop anyone from being able to share their creativity with the rest of the country,” said Mr Vasta.

“The ABC Regional Storyteller scholarship will provide a voice to people with disability in the community and help break down assumptions and attitudes.

“I strongly encourage anyone with a lived experience of disability and with innovative content ideas to apply for this opportunity,” Mr Vasta said.

Last year’s winner, Eliza Hull from Castlemaine in Victoria, has been working with the ABC in Bendigo and has produced an eight-part radio series on ABC Radio National, Life Matters. Eliza’s story, What is it like being a parent with a disability?

“One in five Australians live with disability, this represents a vast pool of talent. Considering a person with disability could lead you to the best person for the job,” Mr Vasta said.

Applications for the ABC Regional Storyteller scholarship are currently open and close on 14 February 2019.

The scholarship winner will spend three months working with various ABC teams, to develop their skills and produce content.

Applicants can email their applications to storytellerscholarship@abc.net.au or contribute offline by posting their applications to Regional Storyteller Scholarship applications, ABC Ultimo PO Box 9994 Sydney NSW 2001. For more information visit abc.net.au/careers

Many of my constituents have shared with me their concerns about Labor’s plan to abolish negative gearing and increase capital gains tax by 50 per cent. And they have every right to be worried. If Labor gets these policies through, it will hurt over 35,000 households in Bonner that own their home, which will now be worth less. It will also hurt over 14,000 households in Bonner that rent, who’ll have to pay more to keep a roof over their head.

Then there are those who negative gear. Over 9000 households use negative gearing in Bonner. This is higher than the national average. The people who negative gear their properties aren’t millionaires like Labor wants you to believe. They’re teachers, nurses and firefighters. They’re people just trying to get ahead, and they stand to lose if Labor has its way.

One of my constituents put it to me very well recently. He said: “I distinctly remember Keating having to eat humble pie and reversing his decision to stop negative gearing back in the 80’s. People stopped buying investment properties, fewer houses to rent, demand for rental houses exploded, rents went through the roof, poorer people who rented got very badly hurt financially. Same thing will happen.”

Now Bill Shorten wants to implement these policies that a growing list of experts warn will have a negative impact on the economy and property market. For the sake of my constituents and 1.3 million Australians who negative gear their property, I hope he starts listening to these warnings and dumps his big new property tax.

I wanted to speak about the Coalition’s recent announcement that we’ll be investing $100 million to further help people with type 1 diabetes. This is fantastic news. The additional funding will expand free access to life-saving glucose monitoring devices to over 37,000 eligible people with type 1 diabetes, including pregnant women, children and more adults.

I’m proud to be part of this Government that recognises the need to support people with type 1 diabetes and their families. I personally know many families in my electorate affected by type 1 diabetes who will stand to benefit from this support. Thanks to this Government’s investment, they will achieve savings of up to $7000 a year.

I want to thank my constituents who have shared their personal experiences with type 1 diabetes with me. I’ve met with type 1 patients and their parents, relatives and friends who’ve opened my eyes to how difficult living with this condition can be.

This year I’ve met with representatives from the DANII Foundation and JDRF Australia regarding continuous glucose monitoring systems, including the FreeStyle Libre System. And I want to thank the Minister for Health for meeting with them as well and heeding their calls for further funding.

It’s great to see that fully subsidised access to CGM devices will be expanded from March 1st next year to people with type 1 diabetes who need it most. I’m also pleased to see that these people will have access to the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system. I thank everyone involved for helping expand access to these CGM devices that will bring peace of mind to more of my constituents with type 1 diabetes and their families.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta has today welcomed the Liberal National Government’s $100 million announcement that Australians fighting cancer will soon benefit when five new cancer listings are made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Mr Vasta said, “From December 1, eligible patients throughout the region with certain forms of leukaemia, advanced tumours of the intestine and pancreas, melanoma, bowel cancer and ovarian cancer will save up to $100,000 a year.”

“Once subsidised under the PBS, patients will pay 39.50 per script or just $6.40 a script for concessional patients,” Mr Vasta said.

“Our Government’s strong economic management means we are providing Australian patients with access to life-saving and life-changing medicines quicker than ever before.”

Listings include –

• Rydapt^® – Almost 200 patients living with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) – a rare but aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow – will now be able to access the $30,000 per year medication Rydapt^® (midostaurin). AML is one of the most common acute leukaemia forms in adults with the highest incidence rates occurring in the US, Europe and Australia. It also has one of the lowest survival rates of all adult leukaemias.

Rydapt is an oral, targeted therapy that interrupts a cancer cells’ ability to grow and multiply and will be made available for people with AML who have a specific genetic mutation called FLT3.

• The current listing of Somatuline Autogel^® (lanreotide) is being extended to include patients with non-functional gastroentero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, which are advanced tumours of the intestine and pancreas. Somatuline  Autogel is used to control the growth of these advanced tumours of the intestine and pancreas. Around 760 patients per year will be able to access this medicine, which would cost $23,000 a year without the PBS subsidy.
• Opdivo^® and Yervoy^® (nivolumab and ipilimumab) are being listed on the PBS as a new combination treatment option for patients with unresectable malignant melanoma which are skin cancers that have spread locally and cannot be removed by surgery.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee considered there was a high unmet clinical need for this aggressive and debilitating condition and that combining these medicines may improve outcomes for some patients.

Currently, around 800 patients per year access ipilimumab on its own for this condition.  This listing will mean these patients can access the combination treatment if their doctor believes it would be a more effective treatment option for them. It would cost over $100,000 per course of treatment without subsidy.

• Lonsurf^® (trifluridine with tipiracil) is being listed on the PBS as a new treatment option for patients with bowel cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Lonsurf works by slowing down the growth and spread of cancer cells. Around 885 patients per year will be able to access this medicine, which would cost $6,000 a year for some patients without the PBS subsidy.
• Lynparza^® (olaparib) for high grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer – a cancer that has very low survival rates – is being amended to also allow for subsidy of a new tablet that significantly reduces the pill burden compared to the current capsule listing. Patients will now be able to take four tablets per day instead of 16 capsules per day.

Lynparza inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body and is currently used by more than 200 women per year. Without PBS subsidy this medicine would otherwise cost around $90,000 per year.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said, “These new and amended PBS listings were all recommended by the independent expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.”

“The Committee is independent of Government by law and in practice. By law the Federal Government cannot list a new medicine without a positive recommendation from PBAC.”

“Unlike Labor, we are subsidising all drugs recommended by the independent medical experts.”

“In the Budget we announced our commitment to invest $2.4 billion in new medicines to build on our commitment to guarantee those essential services that all Australians rely on.”

“Since coming into Government, the Coalition has helped improve the health of Australians by subsidising around $10 billion worth of new medicines.”

“Our commitment to the PBS is rock solid. Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system,” Minister Hunt said.

The Liberal National Government will expand free access to glucose monitoring devices for pregnant women, children and more adults with type 1 diabetes, saving people in Bonner up to $7,000 a year.

Mr Vasta welcomed the $100 million announcement and said the investment guarantees certainty.

“This additional funding over the next four years will ensure that free glucose monitoring devices will be available to over 37,000 eligible people with type 1 diabetes across Australia,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m proud to be part of this Government that recognises the need to support people with type 1 diabetes and their families. I personally know many families in my electorate affected by type 1 diabetes who will stand to benefit from this support.”

From March 1 2019, eligibility for fully subsidised continuous glucose monitoring devices will be expanded under the National Diabetes Services Scheme to include:

• Women with type 1 diabetes who are pregnant, breastfeeding or actively planning pregnancy

• People with type 1 diabetes aged 21 years or older who have concessional status, and who have a high clinical need such as experiencing recurrent severe hypoglycaemic events

• Children and young people with conditions similar to type 1 diabetes who require insulin. This includes a range of conditions such as cystic fibrosis related diabetes or neonatal diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks a person’s ability to produce insulin. People with this condition must be able to monitor their glucose levels day and night.

Continuous glucose monitoring devices continually monitor a person’s glucose levels and provides alerts if glucose levels drop too low.

It involves a sensor, usually attached to the stomach, that monitors the glucose levels and has an alarm that can alert people or their carer if the levels drop to low.

Our Government also plans to add the new the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to the scheme for these people with type 1 diabetes. This will provide patients with more choice in how they manage their diabetes through this important program.

The FreeStyle Libre device involves a sensor on the arm that monitors glucose levels and sends readings to a user’s mobile phone or diabetes management device. When a patient passes their phone or device past the sensor it provides a reading of their glucose levels.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the Government will work with Diabetes Australia and key diabetes experts to implement the expanded scheme and finalise the clinical criteria.

“Expanding access to these glucose monitoring devices helps reduce stress and anxiety as well as emergency visits to the hospital,” Minster Hunt said.

“These devices will bring peace of mind to Australians with type 1 diabetes and improve their quality of life now and into the future.”

In line with a commitment made during the 2016 federal election, the Coalition Government has already made access to glucose monitoring products available to eligible children and young people aged under 21 years with type 1 diabetes – nearly 9,500 young Australians – through the National Diabetes Services Scheme have already taken up the free devices.

The Morrison Government’s strong economic management means we can make sure more patients have access to more life-saving and life-improving medicines and treatments.