NEW legislation introduced into Federal Parliament will provide better recognition of the unique nature of military service and further acknowledge the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families.

The Government’s Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and their Families First) Bill 2019 will establish an Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant, and as part of a wider recognition package, a card and lapel pin will be provided to veterans.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester and Ross Vasta Member for Bonner said the Government is committed to putting veterans and their families first and this legislation is part of a greater suite of measures being put in place.

“The Government has introduced legislation to provide a formal way for all Australians to show their appreciation to the men and women who secured the freedoms we enjoy today and to their families who have supported them,” Mr Chester said.

Mr Vasta said he was a strong supporter of the initiative and what it meant for veterans and their families in their local community.

“The covenant, card and lapel pin will provide the community of Bonner the opportunity to recognise the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our nation,” Mr Vasta said.

“Included in the covenant is an oath, which all Australians will be encouraged to take at community commemorative events and is underpinned by the new Veteran Card and an Australian Veteran Lapel Pin and a Reservist Lapel Pin.

“I encourage all those in Bonner to play their part in recognising and respecting those who have served.”

This Bill will create a separate Act to provide symbolic recognition for all veterans and includes an important overarching statement requiring the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to adopt a

beneficial approach when interpreting legislation and applying a fair, just and consistent approach to veterans’ claims.

More information on the Australian Defence Veterans Covenant can be found on the DVA website

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta has congratulated a local student who was named a Queensland Winner in a prestigious national history competition that explored the Anzac spirit.

Shanelle Van Der Merwe from Year 10 at Citipointe Christian College was one of eight young Australians awarded the Simpson Prize, which encourages participants to explore the significance of the Anzac experience and what it has meant for Australia.

She has won a trip to Europe to visit places of wartime significance in London, France and Belgium.

Shanelle’s essay detailed the significant military, political and economic victories in Australia from the year 1918, and the price that Australian troops and families paid as a result of war and whether the victories were worth the cost.

Mr Vasta said it is important the next generation of Australians reflect on our wartime experiences.

“I congratulate every student in Bonner who entered the Simpson Prize and gained a better understanding of the Anzac tradition and its importance to our national identity.”

The Simpson Prize received 1,230 entries this year from students in years 9 and 10.

The Australian Government has supported the Simpson Prize since 1998. For more information on the Simpson Prize, visit www.simpsonprize.org

The Liberal National Government is investing more than $200 million to list four new breakthrough cancer treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), saving Bonner patients up to a quarter of a million dollars a year.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said almost 1,800 eligible patients with leukaemia, advanced kidney cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer will have new and innovative treatment options that have the potential to save and extend the lives of thousands of Australians and pay a little as $6.50 a script.

The new PBS cancer listings from 1 March 2019 include:

• Venclexta® (venetoclax), which will be listed on the PBS for the first time for people with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a slow-growing cancer that affects white blood cells. The medicine blocks a protein that helps the cancer cells to survive and may slow the spread of the cancer. It is expected 420 patients each year will benefit from this important listing. Without the PBS subsidy, they would have to pay around $7,000 per script or $165,000 per course of treatment over a two year period. This has the potential to improve the lives of some patients with CLL who will be given a new treatment option. The anti-cancer drug venetoclax was developed at Melbourne’s own Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.
• Combination therapy Opdivo^® (nivolumab) and Yervoy^® (ipilimumab) will become available for the previously untreated stage IV clear cell variant renal cell carcinoma, an advanced type of kidney cancer. More than 300 patients a year will be able to access this treatment that helps the immune system attack and destroy cancer cells. The PBS subsidy means they will not need to pay $254,200 per course of treatment.
• Keytruda^® (pembrolizumab) will become available for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, which is a cancer of the urinary system that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. This medicine helps make cancer cells more vulnerable to attack by the body’s own immune system. This is the first PBS immunotherapy treatment for this condition. More than 430 patients each year will be able to access this medicine through the PBS instead of paying more than $91,000 per course of treatment.
• Lenvima® (lenvatinib) will be available for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). This medicine may slow the rate at which the cancer cells multiply and the tumour grows. Without PBS subsidy, approximately 618 patients would pay $9,600 per script or more than $62,000 per course of treatment.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said from 1 March this year, patients will be able to access all of these medicines for just $40.30 per script, or $6.50 with a concession card.

“Every medicine was recommended to be added to the PBS by the independent expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. By law the Federal Government cannot list a new medicine without a positive recommendation from the PBAC,” Minister Hunt said.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said unlike Labor, we are subsidising all drugs recommended by the independent medical experts.

“Since 2013, our Government more than 2,000 new or amended items on the PBS,” Mr Vasta said.

“This represents an average of around 30 listings per month—or one each day— at an overall cost of around $10.6 billion.”

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

The Liberal National Government will ensure that residents in Bonner at risk of heart disease receive timely and appropriate medical advice with the creation of a new Medicare item for heart health checks.

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said from April 1 this year a new dedicated MBS item for heart health checks will support General Practitioners and patients in assessing cardiovascular risk.

“Our Government is deeply committed to tackling Australia’s biggest killer – heart disease. One Australian dies of cardiovascular disease every 12 minutes, with one Australian experiencing a heart attack or stroke every five minutes,” Mr Vasta said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said this dedicated Medicare item for heart heath checks will save and protect lives.

“The independent medical experts at the Medical Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce will also conduct a review with the potential for further development of this new Medicare item,” Minister Hunt said.

Anyone who is concerned about their heart health should always ask their GP for a check-up. Currently there are a range of Medicare items that cover services and tests where people may have heart disease or are at risk of heart disease, including:

• Specialist consultations with a cardiologist
• Electrocardiogram tests (ECG)
• Exercise ECG
• Stress (exercise) ECG
• Cardiac ECG
• Coronary angiography
• Computed tomography coronary arteries
• Chest x-ray
• Electrophysiology studies
• Cholesterol tests
• Lipid tests
• Glucose test

Mr Vasta said since 2013, the Coalition Government has provided $662.2 million for research into cardiovascular disease and provided $7.7 billion to subsidise medicine to treat cardiovascular disease on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

A handy Federal Government cash injection is awaiting some Bonner residents, and it’s as simple as visiting a website.

Bonner Medicare customers are being encouraged to update their bank account details so they can access missed Medicare rebates. Almost 670,000 people have not provided Medicare with their bank details, leaving more than $110 million in unclaimed cash.

Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation Michael Keenan is reminding all Bonner residents to keep their details up to date, so that they can receive rebates quickly and easy.

“The Coalition Government would much rather see this money sitting in your pockets, instead of ours, which is why we are again reminding those who haven’t given Medicare their bank account details, that they need to take action now.”

The average amount owed to each individual is about $150, but some people could be missing out on far more, if they are regular visitors to their doctor, or have had treatment for a serious medical condition.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta encouraged residents to update their bank account details, so that they could start receiving their cash rebates.

“It only takes a couple of minutes, and the easiest way to update your details is by using one of our digital channels, such as the Medicare Express Plus app, or through your myGov account.”

“Medicare will then take care of the rest, and the money you’re owed will be deposited in your account in a matter of days.”

Medicare Customers are reminded that scammers posing as Medicare have been known to contact people asking for their bank account details, so residents need to remain vigilant.

“As recently as late last year, scammers were actively targeting people through SMS messages, that urged them to click on a hyperlink to claim their outstanding Medicare rebates,” Minister Keenan said.

“While the department does call, SMS, or email people, it never includes hyperlinks in emails or text messages.”

Reminder letters will be sent to people shortly, and will contain clear instructions on how missed rebates may be claimed. Anyone with concerns are encouraged to call, or visit one of the hundreds of service centres around the country.

Mr Vasta encouraged residents to check their details as soon as possible.

“My advice is to set aside a couple of minutes, to do what is a really simple task that will ensure you receive what you are entitled to quickly and easily.”

For more information on how to set up a Medicare online account, visit humanservices.gov.au/medicareonline

It is certainly a huge achievement that Ross Vasta has secured funding to fix the awful Lindum Crossing intersection.

My wife and I have lived in the area for more than 14 years, we know just how bad this intersection can be and it’s only bound to get worse.

I met with Ross more than a year ago and he has been passionately fighting to fix this crossing for a long time.

Thank you Mr Vasta for starting the process to fix this intersection it means a lot to the local residents in Wynnum west.

It is thanks to the efforts of Ross Vasta and his persistence to fix our ongoing issue. My wife Erica and I are genuinely grateful that he was able to represent us and get such a positive outcome on behalf of my family.

We are also very impressed that while it has been a struggle for us, Ross took the time to listen to me and brought about an end to all of that in less than 48hrs. He is a great local representative and I would have no issues calling him again if i needed assistance.

Mr Vasta is a genuinely good man. He is a family man with good values and he is always willing to help anyone anywhere he can. No matter what is happening he always has a smile on his face and kindness in his heart. There is no one else who could represent Bonner like he does.

Ross Vasta is an amazing Federal Member of Parliament. He is always approachable, he listens and he takes his position as our representative in Canberra very seriously.

We recently had an issue with our phone and Ross went out of his way immediately to help us and had it fixed in a matter of days without any trouble.

I don’t know what we would do if it wasn’t for Ross, he’s fabulous!

Earlier this year I asked Ross Vasta to attend a meeting with myself from KJ&P, local Mortgage Brokers, Solicitors and Real Estate Agents to discuss the changes and recommendations of the Banking royal Commission. Almost 40 business owners happily attended and listened to Ross and the Coalition’s plan to support our industries.

I have known Ross for decades, and I believe that Ross and the Federal Government have listened to the businesses in the Bonner electorate.

I’m pleased to know that the Coalition Government is supportive of small business and is supporting local business owners by working with us on the Banking Royal Commissions recommendations.